Italy secures EU support for net-zero technologies with four projects selected

Brussels – Carbon-free cement production, zero-emission chemical recycling, residential heating with energy from renewable sources, and geothermal energy storage: the European Commission selected four projects from Italy today (November 3) to fund clean technology projects. The EU executive chose a total of 61 green projects, supported with €2.9 billion, and the list includes four Italian sustainability initiatives.

At the Rezzato-Mazzano cement plant in the province of Brescia, the DREAM project aims to implement a large-scale carbon capture and storage system (CCS) for cement production, marking the first use of such a system in Italy. The captured CO2 will be transported by pipeline to a depleted gas field in Italy for permanent storage. The project, according to the European Commission, will make CCS cost-effective and, in making cement production sustainable for inland locations, “promote the regulatory framework for CCS in Italy.”​

In Piedmont, ReNova aims to launch the first industrial-scale European plant in Italy, utilizing a zero greenhouse gas emission chemical recycling technology that converts polyester waste into pure monomers, with the additional capacity to process polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging waste. The project will represent the first commercialization of ChemPET technology on an industrial scale, enabling the conversion of plastic into high-quality PET, a resin used for bottles, food containers, fibers, and insulation. The ReNova ChemPET project proposes an innovative process that reduces dependence on virgin materials and promotes a circular economy. ​

The third Italian project selected by the European Commission for sustainability in Italy is H2EAT, which will industrialize a zero-emission residential heating system based on flameless catalytic hydrogen combustion by launching a dedicated production line for manufacturing a 25 kW wall-mounted hydrogen boiler in Italy. The project’s innovation is the boiler, which operates via a low-temperature catalytic reaction and eliminates both CO₂ and NOₓ emissions, combining air pre‑heating, exhaust‑gas recirculation, and direct hydrogen injection to deliver a safer solution with over 100 % thermal efficiency, allowing operations with non-flammable hydrogen‑air mix at pressures aligned with existing gas distribution networks.

 Finally, the GESIIS project is for renewable heating through seasonal energy storage. The project integrates medium-depth geothermal doublets,
a novel high-temperature aquifer thermal energy storage
system, and a large heat pump, all coordinated via a
digital, twin platform for real-time optimization and
predictive maintenance.

No amount has yet been determined. All companies in the selection process will now have to define their projects in detail. Only by the end of the first half of 2026 will it be possible to have a detailed picture of the European funding and the timeframe for implementation. Meanwhile, Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Climate and Clean Growth, congratulated the Italian ecosystem. “Today’s selection shows that Europe is turning its climate ambitions into industrial reality.” At the same time, “the response to this call demonstrates the strength of our innovators and the determination of our companies to lead the global race for net-zero technologies.”