Hydrogen as Future Energy Carrier: The ENEA Point of View on Technology and Application Prospects

Hydrogen and fuel cells should reduce costs and increase reliability and durability to compete in the energy market. A considerable long term effort is necessary for research, development and demonstration of adequate solutions; important programs in this sense are carried out in the main industrialized countries, with the involvement of many industries, research structures and stakeholders. In such framework a relevant role is played in Italy by ENEA (Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Environment). In the paper the main aspects related to the possible hydrogen role in the future society are addressed, according to ENEA perspectives.