Rome, ATAC receives €116.7 million national funding for zero emission buses and green hydrogen infrastructure

Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has allocated €116.7 million to ATAC for the purchase of battery-electric and hydrogen buses and the development of a green hydrogen production and refuelling hub in Acilia, Rome.

The largest share of the funding is allocated to hydrogen technology and its associated infrastructure: €89.6 million in total, comprising €83.6 million for new fuel cell buses and €6 million for the construction of the hydrogen facility. The remaining €27.1 million will be dedicated to battery-electric buses.

According to the information released on the funding, no figures have been provided on the number of buses to be purchased, their technical specifications, or the expected tender and delivery schedules. The news was reported on Italian trade media (and our sister platform) Autobusweb.

ATAC gets €83.6 million for hydrogen buses and €27.1 million for e-buses

Of the €116.7 million allocated to ATAC, €83.6 million is earmarked for new fuel cell buses, representing the largest individual component of the funding package.

A further €27.1 million is allocated to battery-electric buses. The available information does not specify how many battery-electric and fuel cell vehicles will be purchased or provide details on vehicle lengths and configurations.

Another €6 million will finance hydrogen infrastructure in Acilia. Combined, fuel cell buses and the H2 facility therefore account for €89.6 million of the total allocation.

Green hydrogen production and refuelling hub planned in Acilia

The project includes the construction of a hydrogen hub in Acilia, in Rome’s Municipio X, where green hydrogen is planned to be both produced and dispensed for public transport operations.

According to the information released, the city administration is also considering the installation of a refuelling station outside the hydrogen production facility that would be accessible to private customers. This is presented as an intention of the administration rather than as a confirmed component of the project.

In brief

• How much funding has been allocated to ATAC?
  Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has allocated a total of €116.7 million.
• How much is allocated to hydrogen buses?
  €83.6 million will fund new fuel cell buses, with another €6 million allocated to the Acilia hydrogen hub.
• How much will be spent on battery-electric buses?
  The funding package allocates €27.1 million to the purchase of e-buses.
• What is planned in Acilia?
  A hub for the production and refuelling of green hydrogen is planned to support public transport operations.

Eugenio Patanè, Rome’s Councillor for Sustainable Mobility and Transport, said: “With this move, we are taking a decisive step towards transforming Rome’s public transport. We are not limiting ourselves to purchasing new-generation zero-emission buses, but are also building the infrastructure needed to operate them. The Acilia station will be a model for green hydrogen production and refuelling, putting Rome at the forefront of achieving European climate neutrality targets.”