Together with Saipem and Alboran Hydrogen, who had already signed a collaboration agreement in January, Edison and Snam signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the joint development of the Puglia Green Hydrogen project Valley, one of the first large-scale green hydrogen production and transportation initiatives in Italy.
The project’s goal is to help expedite the adoption of green hydrogen, one of the key players in Europe’s decarbonization strategy, in the national energy mix in order to meet Italy’s and Europe’s climate neutrality goals by 2050.
The Puglia Green Hydrogen Valley project seeks to create three green hydrogen production plants in Brindisi, Taranto, and Cerignola (Foggia), with a combined capacity of 220 MW and a total power of 380 MW, powered by solar generation. The three plants are expected to be able to create up to 300 million cubic meters of renewable hydrogen per year if fully operational.
Green hydrogen will primarily be used by local industries, as well as through the injection – or blending – of hydrogen into Snam’s local gas network and/or for sustainable mobility. The Brindisi project, which involves the building of a green hydrogen production plant employing electrolysers with a capacity of 60 MW and powered by a specialized photovoltaic field, has already begun the permission procedure.
The entire Puglia Green Hydrogen Valley project will allow significant regional realities, such as the Apulian Aqueduct, the Appulo Lucane Railways, the Apulian technological and productive areas, the Polytechnic of Bari, the University of Bari, Foggia, and Salento, to be enhanced and integrated.
Furthermore, investments in research and development are planned, which will help to foster the creation and development of talents as well as a hydrogen-focused production chain in Puglia.