Hydrogen Valley Lamezia Terme: 2MW PEM Electrolyzer Purchase Finalized – Techfem and Teca Gas Join Forces for Green Hydrogen

Lamezia Terme, 09/05/2025 – Techfem has ordered a 2 MW PEM electrolyzer, destined for the Hydrogen Valley to be built on the decommissioned site of the former SIR industrial complex in Lamezia Terme. The plant will be capable of producing 400 Nm³/h of green hydrogen at 40 barg, equivalent to approximately 36 kg/h.

After overseeing the preliminary design phase of the Hydrogen Valley, including the acquisition of permits, Teca Gas has also entrusted Techfem with the EPC contract (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) for the final and executive design, design-phase safety coordination, and the complete construction of the plant.

The project also includes the installation of systems for hydrogen storage and compression up to 220 barg, as well as a loading bay for filling tube trailers, enabling the distribution of the produced hydrogen to end users.

The electrolyzer—the technological heart of the plant—will produce pressurized hydrogen with an energy consumption of 55 kWh per kilogram of H₂ at full load (BOL), remaining below the 58 kWh/kg threshold set by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The electrolyzer will be supplied by IMI, an engineering company specializing in the design and production of PEM electrolyzers, under the IMI VIVO brand. It will be manufactured in IMI’s new design and production facility located in Sardinia.

Through the process of electrolysis, water molecules are split into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) using electrical energy. This will be the process occurring within the electrolyzer, which will be partially powered by a new photovoltaic plant included in the project.

The synergy with client Teca, a company already active in fuel distribution such as LNG, reinforces the industrial scale of the initiative. The ambitious goal is to create a replicable model of Hydrogen Valley in Italy, promoting the local production and use of hydrogen in both the industrial and transportation sectors, in line with best practices already developed in other European Union countries.

“We are investing significantly in the Lamezia Terme area, and this project is proof of that” said Federico Ferrini, CEO of Techfem.
“Calabria is home to our second most important office, with 60 out of the approximately 400 people that make up the company. We have a recruitment plan for an additional 50 engineers and technicians in 2025, and we have high expectations for the development of this location. We have invested in doubling the number of workstations, improving energy efficiency, and creating spaces equipped with all the necessary technologies and comforts to work at best-in-class standards.
We aim to create synergies and partnerships with the top companies in the regional industrial landscape, such as Teca Gas, fully aware that the social development of a region also passes through innovation and investment in frontier technologies—areas in which Techfem is a market leader.”

“This is a pivotal moment for the development of the Hydrogen Valley in Lamezia Terme, a strategic milestone for Teca Gas,” commented Pasquale Rocca, representative of Teca Gas.
“Thanks to our experience and existing infrastructure, we will play a key role in the green hydrogen supply chain—from production to distribution. Choosing such an efficient electrolyzer will help us reduce energy consumption and protect the environment. Our ongoing mission is to create lasting, tangible value for our region, and this project is a beautiful example of that.”

“Real change is born from strong partnerships, and the Hydrogen Valley project is a clear example of that” stated Giuseppe Buscemi, EMEA President of IMI’s Process Automation division.
“We are proud to collaborate with Techfem and Teca Gas to provide innovative solutions for green hydrogen production—solutions capable of strengthening processes and bringing value to communities. Our IMI VIVO electrolyzer, combining high efficiency with proven reliability, will be at the center of this sustainable energy initiative.”

The project is funded by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) – Mission 2 “Green Revolution and Ecological Transition” Component 2 “Renewable Energy, Hydrogen, Grid and Sustainable Mobility” Investment 3.1 “Production in disused industrial areas,” with support from the European Union under the Next Generation EU program. Funding is allocated based on Regional Decree No. 73 of January 5, 2023, issued by the Calabria Region.

The plant is scheduled to become operational by June 30, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the decarbonization of the national energy system.

Techfem reaffirms its leadership in project management and the development of innovative solutions in the fossil-free molecules sector, with a portfolio of over 70 projects for both Italian and international clients and partners.