Hydrogen is widely recognised today as a strategic vector for decarbonisation and the energy transition. Yet, the question remains: how do we produce, purify, and store it efficiently enough for true industrial-scale adoption? We explored these questions through the lens of scientific research, materials development, and engineering applications in three distinguished keynote presentations.
Below are the key insights from the symposium “Hydrogen: Past, Present, and Future Challenges” held at KEY 2026.
The big story of a small atom – Prof. Vincenzo Palermo (CNR-ISOF) Prof. Palermo reminded us that hydrogen is the smallest, simplest and most common atom in the universe (it makes up 75% of the solar mass). Despite a pioneering past (think of airships or the blowtorch of the 19th century), its modern use presents complex challenges, starting with production. Today we talk about “color” hydrogen: although the goal is green hydrogen (produced from renewable electricity), we currently use a lot of gray hydrogen made from methane (SMR), a process that unfortunately emits more than 6 tons of CO2 for every ton of hydrogen produced. An interesting development is the recent race for white (geological) hydrogen, with huge estimated potential reserves underground. Finally, Palermo pointed out that hydrogen is difficult to handle because it penetrates and embrittles metals. The solution for its purification and storage lies in the development of advanced nanomaterials, such as graphene-based nanocomposites or polymers.
MOFs: materials for capturing and storing the hydrogen of the future – Prof. Claudio Pettinari (University of Camerino) Hydrogen storage is perhaps the real “bottleneck” in the industry: compressing it requires extremely robust reservoirs, and liquefying it at -252 °C is an energy-intensive process. Prof. Pettinari illustrated the enormous potential of a solid-state alternative: MOFs (Metal-Organic Frameworks). These are crystalline solids formed by metal ions connected by organic chains, forming super-porous “open box”-like structures. Their ability to store gases is astounding: a single teaspoon of MOFs can have enough internal surface area to cover an entire soccer field! However, there is a chemical challenge to overcome: currently the interactions (van der Waals) that bind hydrogen to MOFs are weak, requiring cryogenic temperatures to hold the gas. Research is working to functionalize these structures (by inserting defects or open metal sites) to make them work at higher temperatures. In this chase for innovation, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are playing a key role in predicting and discovering the best performing MOFs in record time.
Industrial hydrogen applications: the example of Techfem – Eng. Emanuel Muraca (Techfem) From theory to industrial practice. Eng. Muraca illustrated how companies are already transforming the hydrogen supply chain into operational reality, driven by the need to decarbonize transportation and industry. Techfem’s experience demonstrates a 360-degree approach that spans the entire value chain (production, compression, storage, and distribution). Among the most relevant results presented are:
• SmartHydroGrid & Fano Demo Plant: a Digital Twin and a physical pilot plant to optimise renewable-powered smart grids, using hydrogen for energy storage.
• e-Fuels and SAF: The “HYMAGE” demonstrator captures CO2 from biogas, combining it with hydrogen to create synthetic fuels (e-methane and e-methanol). Meanwhile, the “JET-ZERO” project targets Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), crucial for making aviation more sustainable, by benchmarking the technical performance of processes such as Fischer-Tropsch and Methanol-to-Jet.
• Hyround Project (Italgas): the practical implementation of a Power-to-Gas refueling station in Sardinia to power bus fleets and light vehicles with hydrogen at 350 and 700 bar.
The three presentations perfectly demonstrated how the synergy between fundamental research, advanced materials chemistry and process engineering is an indispensable catalyst for transforming hydrogen from a ‘fuel of the future’ into a present-day reality.