The project for the creation of the first Italian Green Hydrogen Valley in Puglia comes to life with the participation of Edison and Saipem.
The two companies, following the agreements signed in September 2021, today announced the acquisition, respectively 50% and 10% of the company Alboran Hydrogen Brindisi, instrumental to the realization of the investment. Saipemmoreover, it also holds an exclusive for the realization of the project which will allow produce hydrogen with renewable sources.
In Piazza Affari Edison shares 1,30 euro, up 1,17%, Saipem shares 0,67%, up 0,069%.
3 plants are planned to produce green hydrogen
The project Apulia Green Hydrogen Valley provides for the creation of three plants of green hydrogen production in Brindisi, Taranto and Cerignola, in the province of Foggia, for a total electrolysis capacity of 220 MW, powered by about 400 MW of photovoltaic solar energy, says a note.
Once fully operational, the three plants will be able to produce overall up to approximately 300 million normal cubic meters of renewable hydrogen per year, intended to feed the industries present in the area and sustainable mobility, also through injection into the local gas network.
THEBrindisi plant, which is in an advanced stage of development, involves the construction of a green hydrogen production plant using electrolysers with a capacity of 60 MW powered by a dedicated photovoltaic field. The project was proposed, among others, for the IPCEI European funding call (Important Projects of Common European Interest).
The entire project, which involves regional realities including the Apulian Aqueduct, the Apulo Lucane Railways, the Apulian technological and productive districts, the Bari Polytechnic, the Universities of Bari, Foggia and Salento, will make it possible to maximize synergies with the territory and encourage the development of skills for the creation of a local supply chain.
Hydrogen is one of the reference energy vectors for achieving the decarbonisation objectives set by the national and European strategy for 2030 and 2050 and "the project - explains the joint note - has a strong local relevance, considering that Puglia absorbs for its industrial sector more energy than the average and represents about 6% of national energy consumption in the sector”.
Puglia Green Hydrogen Valley, the comments of the companies
“With this project, Edison confirms its commitment to the development of the entire green hydrogen supply chain, a synergistic technology with the company's core business and a key element in its strategic development plan" he says John BrianzaCEO Edison Next, the Edison Group company that accompanies companies and territories in the ecological transition and decarbonization. "In particular, the company aims to use green hydrogen to replace fossil fuels in energy-intensive industrial processes and to make heavy transport sustainable".
Fabrizio Botta, Chief Commercial Officer of Saipem "the initiative is strategic in the framework of our technological plan, which provides for the development of "Low Carbon" solutions enabling innovative business models, and therefore confirms us as the ideal partner to support our customers in the energy transition and towards the Net Zero".
While Matthias D'Amato, Director Strategy Development and Innovation of dawn, says that “this project highlights the perfect harmony between Alboran's choices in the field of green hydrogen and the national and European strategies that go in this direction. The involvement of other so relevant partners in the initiative allows for the best development of the potential of the project model proposed for Puglia”.
