FAST for Hydrogen

Established in Milan in 1897, FAST is a non-profit, independent organisation that represents 27 national scientific and technical associations with about 35,000 members of industry, research, technology and the liberal professions. FAST has the objective of spreading scientific culture by offering technical services at national level, promoting public and private initiatives of advanced training and professional education and by participating in European innovation projects, offering support for sector studies and for the dissemination of project results at European level.

Since 2004, FAST has developed projects to disseminate information regarding hydrogen and the fuel cell sector to raise awareness about hydrogen as an option to contribute to the decarbonisation pathway, creating synergies between industries and research organisations and disseminating knowledge through conferences, workshops and events. The same year, FAST promoted the birth of the Italian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association H2IT – Associazione Italiana Idrogeno e Celle a Combustibile. H2IT is an autonomous Association that represents industries and research institutes operating in the hydrogen and fuel cell sector and aims to promote the development of the Italian market related to the production, transport, storage and use of clean hydrogen, as well as the creation of the infrastructure for its use, stimulating competitiveness and innovation on a national and international level.

Since then, FAST has brought the Association to be recognised at national level by Italian government, institutions and companies as the voice of the hydrogen sector. FAST’s commitment to hydrogen is also reflected in its participation in various European projects for mobility and stationary applications and to education and training of professionals in this area.

Since our primary objective is to spread scientific and technical culture, FAST organised in 2020 several digital events and promoted a cycle of 5 webinars dedicated to the topic of hydrogen and its role in all parts of the value chain. Through these webinars, opportunities and challenges were highlighted, from hydrogen production to end uses in the decarbonisation of sectors such as industry, residential and transport. These aspects were addressed from a technical, economic and regulatory point of view and possible future developments were analysed. The speakers presented the hydrogen application in their companies, technological development and their vision on the future.

Italy is now committed to developing its own hydrogen strategy. Following the path indicated by the European Commission, FAST is keen to support the activities of the Association and to facilitate the dissemination of information as well as the creation of new collaborations at national and international level to strengthen the Italian and European hydrogen supply chain.