Enel and Eni join forces in green hydrogen. The two groups will develop two pilot projects using electrolysers powered by renewable energy which will be located near two Eni refineries. Each project will include an electrolyser of approximately 10 MW and is expected to start generating green hydrogen by 2022-2023. The partnership was announced by Enel CEO Francesco Starace during the presentation of the new business plan 2021-23 and will be implemented in the three-year period.
“We are interested in exploring the promising green hydrogen sector with Eni. Together – he commented Francesco Starace, CEO and general manager of the Enel group – we have identified a couple of sites from which to start with the first projects. The general system we have in mind will work as a closed loop where the electrolyser powered by renewable energy and the refinery will be at the same site, thus avoiding the construction of complex transport infrastructure for hydrogen. We are keen to see green hydrogen supplying Eni's refinery and biorefinery processes and are working to have the first system operational before the end of our current three-year plan."
Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Eni, “this collaboration for the development of green hydrogen is part of Eni's broader energy transition strategy. Our goal is to accelerate the reduction of our carbon footprint, by implementing the best applicable solutions for low carbon, green or blue emissions, to reduce our direct emissions and supply bio products to our customers”.
In the green hydrogen sector, Enel is also developing projects in Spain, Chile and the United States. If the expected economic improvements in the green hydrogen sector are confirmed, the group plans to increase its green hydrogen production capacity to over 2 GW by 2030.
As for Eni, is studying further projects in Italy and the United Kingdom in the hydrogen segment.
The Enel-Eni agreement "may be the subject of subsequent binding agreements that the parties will define in compliance with the applicable legislation, including that relating to transactions between related parties", reads the note.
Meanwhile, too A2A and Northern Milan Railways have formed an alliance to study how to produce and distribute green hydrogen to power the new trains on the Brescia-Iseo-Edolo line announced by FNM in November. The plan of FNM and Trenord, called H2iseO, plans to create the first Italian "Hydrogen Valley" in Sebino and Valcamonica, equipping it, starting from 2023, with a fleet of hydrogen trains.
