A project to reduce emissions while replacing traditional fuels
H2 Valcamonica is a project that aims to create the first integrated supply chain for the production, storage, distribution and marketing of green hydrogen and contribute to the achievement of the Net Zero target. The sectors involved will be mobility and energy-intensive industries (EII).
The ambitious measures that will be put into practice will concern:
- the implementation of an electrolyser for hydrogen production
- the installation of a compression system
- the development of a dual storage system (fixed and mobile) useful for storage
Hydrogen will be produced from the certified share of renewable electricity generated by the Brescia waste-to-energy plant.
The project aims to implement green technologies and processes to replace traditional fuels in both the transport and industrial sectors.
The production of hydrogen through the use of renewable energy, replacing traditional fuels, will enable the H2 Valcamonica project to avoid greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the fight against climate change.
The site will produce 830 tons of hydrogen per year, with 43,870 MWh of electricity and 16,600 m3 of water.
The project will avoid 42,295 t CO2 and absolute net emissions during the first 10 years of operations.
The avoided emissions will be equal to almost 100% of the greenhouse gases emitted by a conventional technology.
Although the hydrogen element is extremely abundant in nature, it is very rare to find it in the molecular form 'H2', the one required for final consumption.
Molecular hydrogen can be obtained by the process of water electrolysis, through which water molecules can be split into hydrogen and oxygen gas using electricity.
This reaction is produced within an electrolytic cell or electrolyser system. These cells generally consist of two electrodes separated by an electrolyte which, when subjected to a potential difference, cause the water molecule to be broken down into its constituent elements (hydrogen and oxygen), thereby ensuring its extraction with very high levels of purity.
The H2 Valcamonica project envisages several interventions that, in combination, will make it possible to obtain the hydrogen necessary for refuelling trains and, more generally, to act as a flywheel for the decarbonisation of the Valcamonica, characterised by the presence of a dense industrial sector with high emissions (hard to abate).
A2A is a Life Company that deals with energy, water and the environment, the necessary conditions for life. It uses the most advanced technologies to drive the ecological transition. The Group, which is listed on the Italian stock exchange and employs about 13,000 people, manages power generation, sales and distribution, district heating, waste collection and recovery, e-mobility and smart city services, public lighting and water service.
FNM is the leading integrated sustainable mobility Group in Lombardy. It is the first organisation in Italy to combine railway infrastructure management with road transport and motorway infrastructure management, in order to offer an innovative model for managing mobility supply and demand.
Snam is Europe’s leading operator in gas transport and storage. It also operates in LNG regasification. The Group ranks among Italy’s top 10 listed companies by market cap. With its 80 years of experience, Snam guarantees security of supply and promotes the decarbonisation across territories, through investments in green gases (biomethane, hydrogen) and energy efficiency.
Co-funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are not those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.