The first green hydrogen engine was presented by Pierpaolo Antonioli, CEO of Punch Torino, with Guido Dumarey, founder of the multinational company based in Corso Castelfidardo in the citadel of Politecnico di Torino. Starting from 2025 it will be possible to install the new engine on different types of transport means and currently the first system of production, storage and distribution of green hydrogen is being developed. It will be obtained from the 2200 square meters of solar panels installed on the multi-storey parking lot and, besides powering the engine prototypes, it will be used to develop new technologies.
Green hydrogen, meaning truly sustainable hydrogen, is obtained by electrolysis of water, feeding the mechanism with renewable energy. Currently, the percentage of hydrogen of this type used is still very low, since most of it is composed of the cheaper grey hydrogen (obtained from the processing of hydrocarbon gases) and blue hydrogen (obtained from CO2).
The development and production of this engine, realized thanks to an investment of 40 million euros, are an important step in the pursuit of greater sustainability in the field of mobility. Punch, founded in 2005 as a division of General Motors for the study of diesel engines, has completely converted its activities by directing the work of over 700 employees in Turin towards research on hydrogen.
Punch is also working to forge strong relationships with institutions, to strengthen the spirit of collaboration in the city and national innovation ecosystem. To this purpose, in the next few days, Punch CEO Pierpaolo Antonioli will meet Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister of Economic Development.