H2_POLYTECH: new green hydrogen production plant inaugurated in Storo: innovation, industry and sustainability supporting local development

Developed on a disused industrial site, H2_POLYTECH is among the projects selected under the call for proposals launched by the Autonomous Province of Trento for the construction of green hydrogen production plants in former industrial areas. The initiative is funded under 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”, financed by the European Union – Next Generation EU.

Storo (Trento, Italy), 22 October 2026. The inauguration ceremony of H2_POLYTECH, a green hydrogen production project promoted by Polytec Energy S.r.l. and BM Group Holding S.p.A., took place at the industrial site in Storo.

The plant integrates a 1 MW PEM electrolyser with approximately 4.7 MWp of installed photovoltaic capacity. The investment combines technological innovation with the energy transition of the industrial sector, while enhancing the Giudicarie area’s resources and local entrepreneurial expertise.

The energy system was designed to make use of existing surfaces and areas, including industrial rooftops, dedicated canopies, an exhausted quarry and an area previously used for processing extracted materials and recovering inert materials. This design approach combines energy production, the regeneration of disused spaces and consideration for the surrounding environment.

Another distinctive feature is the possibility of producing and using hydrogen close to industrial operations, reducing transportation requirements and facilitating integration with the production processes of end-user companies.

The event brought together representatives of provincial and local institutions, public authorities, industrial leaders, local businesses, technology partners and professionals involved in the project’s development.

Moderated by journalist Erminia Voccia, the ceremony opened with institutional addresses and a written message from Italy’s Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin. It then continued with contributions from institutional and industrial representatives and the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Francesco Bettoni, Sole Director of Polytec Energy S.r.l. and CEO of BM Group Holding S.p.A., opened the proceedings by placing the project within BM Group’s broader development strategy.

With more than 500 direct employees and an international presence, BM Group maintains strong roots in Trentino. Its development strategy increasingly focuses on positioning the Group’s companies as EPC contractors in industrial automation and robotics, power conversion and energy storage systems, and renewable energy plants.

The Group continues to expand its expertise to support the evolution of industrial production processes across sectors ranging from steelmaking and ceramics to hydropower and renewable gases.

H2_POLYTECH stems from BM Group’s ownership’s determination to invest in new energy technologies and explore practical solutions to support companies in transforming their production processes.

The project forms part of an industrial strategy focused on integrating renewable energy generation, efficient resource management and the development of new energy carriers.

In his address, the Mayor of Storo, Nicola Zontini, highlighted the significance of the initiative for a community that has successfully navigated major industrial and employment-related changes, creating new opportunities through the investment capacity of local entrepreneurs.

Storo, a municipality of approximately 4,500 inhabitants, is now an example of industrial vitality, with a manufacturing and artisan business network that makes a significant contribution to local employment.

“Storo is a border territory, but above all it is a community that knows how to do business, thanks to forward-thinking people who have invested and created new opportunities. In the early 2000s, the industrial area experienced a severe employment crisis following the departure of several multinational companies. Today, thanks to the commitment of local entrepreneurs, the area has regained momentum, achieving significant employment levels relative to the size of our community. The inauguration of H2_POLYTECH is a source of pride for Storo. We thank Polytec, BM Group and all their collaborators for choosing our municipality for a project that combines innovation, industrial development and environmental responsibility. The construction of the plant has made it possible to regenerate disused industrial and quarry areas, introduce new technology for producing hydrogen from renewable sources and develop professional expertise locally. As a municipal administration, we strongly believe in industrial, artisan and economic development, and we are convinced that collaboration with businesses is essential to supporting peripheral areas as well. We will continue to stand alongside entrepreneurs who choose to invest here, helping to create jobs, opportunities and favourable conditions for the growth of our community.”

The representatives of the Autonomous Province of Trento attending the ceremony also emphasised the initiative’s value in terms of economic development, energy transition and the local industrial system’s ability to embrace innovative technologies.

Achille Spinelli, Provincial Councillor for Economic Development, Labour, Family, Universities and Research, serving as Vice-President of the Province, stressed the importance of bringing projects to completion that translate innovation and sustainability objectives into tangible results. He also highlighted the value of cooperation between industry and institutions in strengthening the territory’s competitiveness.

Mattia Gottardi, Provincial Councillor for Urban Planning, Energy, Transport, Sport and Protected Areas, described the event as a moment of satisfaction and celebration for the community, emphasising the ability to combine industrial vision with practical implementation and value creation.

Roberto Failoni, Provincial Councillor for Crafts, Commerce, Tourism, Forestry, Hunting and Fishing, highlighted the initiative’s positive impact on supply chains and small and medium-sized enterprises. He emphasised BM Group’s commitment to involving and enhancing local resources and capabilities, as well as the importance of viewing peripheral areas as innovative gateways to other regions and international markets.

Andrea Tonini, shareholder and Managing Director of BM Group Holding S.p.A., explained how H2_POLYTECH represents the outcome of a clear industrial decision: to invest in an evolving technological field, develop expertise and contribute to solutions addressing the energy needs of industry.

“Today we are inaugurating a plant that is the result of a choice, a vision and our Group’s determination to continue investing in systems that support technological transformation and the energy transition of industry.

We have believed in green hydrogen as a new energy carrier, fully aware that exploring a new field requires courage, a willingness to challenge ourselves and the ability to learn.

A project like this cannot be achieved through the work of a single area of expertise or a single organisation. The contribution of multidisciplinary teams and cooperation with institutions and local authorities have been fundamental, united by the shared objective of generating value for the territory and for industry.”

The institutional and industrial addresses concluded with Mirko Bottini, founding shareholder and Chairman of BM Group Holding S.p.A., who connected the significance of H2_POLYTECH to the Group’s industrial vision and the relationship between international growth and local development. He also thanked customers for the trust they have placed in BM Group over the years.

“H2_POLYTECH reflects the way BM Group intends to approach the future: the determination to invest in new technologies, an awareness of our industrial roots and a commitment to making a tangible contribution to the transformation of the industrial and energy sectors. We believe in our country’s industrial potential and in the value of the companies that contribute every day to manufacturing, technological innovation and the energy transition. Exporting technology also means exporting knowledge, engineering capabilities, experience and industrial culture. It means demonstrating that even a relatively small territory can develop expertise capable of meeting the most complex challenges of international markets. The project we are inaugurating today is consistent with this vision. It has enabled us to explore a new technology, develop expertise, integrate energy production with hydrogen use and regenerate a disused industrial area. For an industrial group like ours, these experiences have strategic value: they help us understand the potential and limitations of technologies and build the expertise needed to support our customers in the decisions they will face in the coming years. We want to continue growing internationally while keeping our roots firmly established in this valley, bringing Italian and Trentino expertise to global markets while helping to create new opportunities for our territory.”

The ceremony also provided an opportunity to explore the project’s potential applications and the partnerships supporting its development.

Oreste Bottaro, owner of Innova, a local company that will use the energy produced as part of its manufacturing processes, represented the direct connection between the energy initiative and the practical needs of manufacturing businesses.

Tommaso Gazzini, Client Manager at Maps Energy S.r.l., a company belonging to Maps Group, presented the FLEXIA research project, funded by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE).

The project focuses on energy flexibility management and is being developed with the involvement of Storo, local partners and the area’s electricity distributor.

The initiative forms part of the broader evolution of energy systems, with particular emphasis on the efficient management of energy production and consumption.

Lieutenant Giorgio Cecchini, a technical officer in the Italian Ministry of Defence’s Engineer Corps Reserve, shared his perspective on enabling technologies and technological sovereignty in the context of the energy transition, highlighting the strategic importance of national expertise and industrial capabilities.

Finally, Alfredo Maglione, Vice-President of Confindustria Trento, emphasised the association’s role in supporting its member companies and innovative initiatives such as H2_POLYTECH, which involve challenging implementation schedules and the need to address the complexities associated with introducing new technologies.

With its inauguration on 22 October, H2_POLYTECH enters a new phase, providing the local area with infrastructure and a valuable body of expertise to further explore the opportunities offered by hydrogen in industrial production processes.

The day concluded with the ribbon-cutting ceremony and an informal networking gathering, allowing participants to continue exchanging views on the prospects of the energy transition and opportunities for collaboration among the organisations present.