Is Hydrogen Economically Feasible for an Alpine Community? The AMETHyST Project and the H2FAsT Tool

Green hydrogen is emerging as a promising solution in the energy transition, but it still faces challenges. Production costs remain high, and the supply chain and technology are in their early stages of development. Yet, the potential for alpine regions is significant—particularly for decarbonising hard-to-electrify sectors such as transport and industry.

The widespread adoption of green hydrogen depends heavily on economic feasibility. That’s why, under the Interreg Alpine Space AMETHyST project, the Italian Energy Management Agency of Friuli Venezia Giulia (APE FVG) developed a digital tool called H2FAsT. This simulator enables energy companies and public entities to model hydrogen production sites based on available renewable energy inputs, such as wind or solar, before committing significant economic resources.

The goal is to make green hydrogen accessible not just to large corporations but also to smaller businesses and alpine communities. For remote or mountainous regions, H2FAsT offers the possibility of creating self-sustaining ecosystems that decarbonise energy use. By linking local supply and demand, communities can establish independent hydrogen infrastructures, reducing reliance on large energy grids.

H2FAsT is designed to prioritise economic sustainability while addressing technical constraints. Its sophisticated algorithm evaluates over 30 technical and economic parameters, including energy input fluctuations and cost structures, helping users determine if a given configuration is viable for green hydrogen production.

Accessible and user-friendly, the tool requires only a Google account, an internet connection, and data from your renewable energy source. H2FAsT will officially launch at the end of April 2025 and will be available here: skhyline.eu

Are you ready to start planning a green hydrogen solution for your alpine valley?

This best practice is extracted from our publication ‘Sustainable Regions in Action‘. Discover more best practices here!