Iberdrola, one of the world leaders in renewable energy, has signed a memorandum of understanding with AECOM, a “Fortune 500” company, world leader in the infrastructure sector, Ancitel Energia e Ambiente, a company specializing in sustainable development of the territories, and eCinque International, an active company in the implementation of solutions related to the use of green hydrogen, for the development of the green hydrogen conversion project of the Apennine railway ridge that connects Sansepolcro (Arezzo) to Sulmona (L’Aquila).
It is a communication line over 300 km long, strategic for the connection of the inland areas of Italy that crosses Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio and Abruzzo passing through Perugia, Terni, Rieti and L’Aquila. A partially non-electrified section and traveled by diesel trains that have reached the end of their life: with the transition to hydrogen power, costs will drastically reduce compared to traditional electrification and will bring innovation and development to areas subject to depopulation and deindustrialisation.
The protocol also includes a technical feasibility assessment for the development of the hydrogen-powered Ferrovia dei Due Mari transversal line which should connect Fiumicino Airport and Rome to San Benedetto del Tronto via Rieti, Amatrice and Ascoli Piceno, making Rome the first capital of the world served by hydrogen trains.
The conversion initiatives are part of the integrated and sustainable project for the relaunch of the central Apennines promoted in the first instance by AECOM, AncitelEnergia e Ambiente and Cinque International. The development project focuses on the use of hydrogen electric trains, as a lever to attract productive investments in the territories affected by the seismic events of 2009, 2016 and 2017, which in recent years have suffered from depopulation and economic decline, aggravated phenomena from the spread of the pandemic. At the heart of the initiative is the use of new technologies in the energy and environmental fields, with a particular role recognized by “green” hydrogen, ie produced from new renewable sources.
Lorenzo Costantini, Iberdrola’s country manager Italy, said: “We are proud to put our skills at the service of this ambitious project which, in addition to having an important environmental impact, also aims to have a significant economic and social impact, support of territories that in recent years have been heavily affected by earthquakes. ”The Sansepolcro – Sulmona hydrogen railway project has already passed several steps: in 2019 it was presented at the Hydrogen Table of the Ministry of Economic Development (MiSE). In 2020, following a pre-feasibility study coordinated by the Scuola Superiore S. Anna di Pisa, a technical table was started at the MiSE with the participation of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT), the FS group and RFI. In December 2020 the process of collecting the adhesions of the local communities began, aimed at removing any bureaucratic and administrative obstacles. Finally, in July 2021 the project passed the pre-selection phase by the European Commission within the European CleanHydrogen Alliance.
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In developing the plan, the promoters of the initiative will continue to dialogue and discuss with the Regions crossed by the railway, with the Ferrovie dello Stato Group and with other public and private entities in the area, involving them in the development and implementation of the project. there is the use of new technologies in the energy and environmental fields, with a particular role recognized by “green” hydrogen, ie produced from new renewable sources. Lorenzo Costantini, Iberdrola country manager Italy, said: “We are proud to put our skills at the service of this ambitious project which, in addition to having an important environmental impact, also aims to have a significant economic and social impact, supporting territories that in recent years have been heavily affected by earthquakes “.
The Sansepolcro – Sulmona hydrogen railway project has already passed several steps: in 2019 it was presented at the Hydrogen Table of the Ministry of Economic Development (MiSE). In 2020, following a pre-feasibility study coordinated by the Scuola Superiore S. Anna di Pisa, a technical table was started at the MiSE with the participation of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT), the FS group and RFI. In December 2020 the process of collecting the adhesions of the local communities began, aimed at removing any bureaucratic and administrative obstacles. Finally, in July 2021 the project passed the pre-selection phase by the European Commission within the European CleanHydrogen Alliance.