Situated in the heart of the Po Valley, one of Europe’s most polluted areas, the historic city of Mantova is now leading the European ecological transition. The HYMANTOVALLEY (Hydrogen Mantova Valley) project was born with a clear and ambitious goal: to promote the use of renewable hydrogen to reduce emissions across the civil, industrial, and transport sectors.

Coordinated by the Province of Mantova, this innovation ecosystem unites 22 partners (including companies, universities, and institutions) from 10 regions and 4 European Union Member States (Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, and Belgium). We work together to create a complete, sustainable, and cutting-edge hydrogen value chain.

Our Key Action Areas:

• Innovative Production and Distribution: We are driving the transition to green hydrogen production through the installation of a new 5 MW electrolyser in Venice, powered by a dedicated photovoltaic plant. To connect these hubs, we are developing high-pressure intermodal storage solutions (500 bar) using innovative MEGCs capable of traveling safely by road, rail, and water.
• Zero-Emission Mobility and Transport: We are transforming the logistics of the Mantova-Venice corridor by studying the hydrogen refitting of a commercial pusher tug for inland navigation on the Fissero-Tartaro canal. Simultaneously, we are designing a new platform for railway shunting locomotives free from diesel emissions.
• Building and Agri-food Sectors: Clean energy must enter everyday life. We are evaluating the integration of renewable hydrogen to power Mantova’s urban district heating network. Furthermore, we are creating a zero-emission agri-food supply chain: a sustainable aquaponic greenhouse integrated with hydrogen-powered logistics vehicles and fuel-cell bicycles for educational and tourist routes.
• Research, Education, and the Future: To sustain this revolution, we are designing a new Applied Research and Education Hub for hydrogen, rehabilitating an industrial area. The hub will attract researchers, develop new skills, and stimulate technological innovation.

Our Impact HYMANTOVALLEY is not just a technological experiment, but a catalyst for tangible social, economic, and environmental change. We aim to significantly improve air quality, create new specialized jobs, and stimulate the economic growth of the territory.

All the solutions studied and tested in Mantova have been conceived to become an international “best practice,” providing a replicable technical and business model for the development of new Hydrogen Valleys throughout Europe.

Hymantovalley involves investments of around €9 million and is co-financed at 70% by the European Union through the I3 Interregional Innovation Investments Program – Investments for interregional innovation, managed by EISMEA – the Executive Agency of the European Council for Innovation and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. The project is structured into 8 work packages, 13 milestones, and 46 deliverables.

Explore the sections of our website to discover our partners, the cutting-edge technologies we are implementing, and how, together, we are building the clean energy of tomorrow, today.