The Italian Green Hydrogen Valley is enriched by the contribution of Edison and Snam; the two companies joined forces with Saipem and Alboran to develop three green hydrogen production plants for a total of 220 MW in Puglia in the areas of Brindisi, Taranto and Cerignola (Foggia). The Brindisi project has already started the authorization process.
Saipem and Alboran Hydrogen had already signed a collaboration agreement last January. The project aims to accelerate the spread of green hydrogen, one of the protagonists of the European decarbonization strategy, in the national energy mix in order to achieve the Italian and European 2050 goal of climate neutrality.
Puglia Green Hydrogen Valley intends to build three green hydrogen production plants in Brindisi, Taranto and Cerignola (Foggia) for a total capacity of 220 MW and powered by photovoltaic production for a total power of 380 MW. Once fully operational, the three plants are estimated to be able to produce up to approximately 300 million cubic meters of renewable hydrogen per year.
Green hydrogen will be mainly destined for use by the industries present in the areas, also through the injection – or blending – of hydrogen into Snam’s local gas network and / or used for sustainable mobility.
Of the three planned plants, the Brindisi project has already started the authorization process and envisages the construction of a green hydrogen production plant using electrolysers with a capacity of 60 MW powered by a dedicated photovoltaic field.
The entire Puglia Green Hydrogen Valley project will make it possible to enhance and involve important regional realities, including the Apulian Aqueduct, the Appulo Lucane Railways, the Apulian technological and production districts,
the Polytechnic of Bari, the University of Bari, Foggia and Salento. Furthermore, investments in research and development are foreseen which would favor the birth and development of skills and a production chain in Puglia dedicated to the hydrogen industry.
The agreement reached constitutes a fundamental step in starting a hydrogen industry in the country, creating new opportunities in terms of employment and skills.
With this agreement, Edison confirms its role as an important player also in the green hydrogen sector, a synergistic technology both with respect to the company’s core business, active along the entire value chain in the energy sector, and to its strategic development plan.
Thanks to the most widespread network in Europe and its technological skills, Snam proposes itself as an enabler of the hydrogen valleys, contributing to the development of projects and connecting the production and consumption points.
Saipem reiterates the importance of the project for its contribution to the country system recovery plan. The company is committed to the development of innovative technologies and business models in the green hydrogen and renewable energy sectors that are part of the evolution process of its portfolio of skills. Saipem is therefore confirmed as the ideal partner to support its customers in the energy transition and towards Net Zero.
Finally, Alboran highlights the perfect harmony between his choices in the field of green hydrogen and the national and European strategies that go in this direction. The involvement of other important partners in the initiative allows to better develop the potential of the project model proposed for Puglia.
For the realization of the project described above, the partners envisage the establishment of a purpose company (Alboran 30%, Edison 30%, Snam 30%, Saipem 10%) following the signing of binding agreements subject to subsequent negotiation between the parties, in compliance with the reference regulatory framework, including that on transactions between related parties.
Edison
Edison is the oldest energy company in Europe, with over 135 years of records, and is one of the leading operators in the sector in Italy. The company is at the forefront of the challenge of the energy transition, through the development of low carbon generation, energy efficiency services and sustainable mobility, in full harmony with the objectives defined by the European Green Deal. Edison sells electricity, natural gas and energy and environmental services to 1.6 million end customers. It is an integrated operator along the electricity value chain: from production to the sale of the energy component. It has a highly flexible and efficient electricity production park, consisting of 200 power plants including hydroelectric, wind, solar and thermoelectric combined cycle gas plants. The Group’s net installed power is 7 GW and in 2020 it generated 18.1 TWh, covering 7% of national electricity production. Today it operates in Italy and Europe, employing over 4,000 people.
Snam
Snam is one of the leading energy infrastructure companies in the world and one of the largest listed Italian companies by capitalization. In addition to Italy, it operates, through subsidiaries, in Albania (AGSCo), Austria (TAG, GCA), United Arab Emirates (ADNOC Gas Pipelines), France (Teréga), Greece (DESFA) and United Kingdom (Interconnector UK) and has activity also in China and India. It is also one of the main shareholders of TAP