Renewable

September 15 (Renewables Now) - Four Italian companies including electricity and natural gas producer Edison SpA (BIT:EDNR) plan to team up for the joint development of the 220-MW Puglia Green Hydrogen Valley project in the Puglia region.

Edison has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with energy infrastructure operator Snam SpA (BIT:SRG) to join engineering and technological platform Saipem SpA (BIT:SPM) and Alboran Hydrogen, which already initiated cooperation last January.

To realise the project, the four players need to sign binding deals and then create a special purpose vehicle. The plan is for Saipem to acquire a 10% stake in this new firm, while each of the other three participants takes a 30% interest.

The Puglia Green Hydrogen Valley project will involve the development of three green hydrogen production plants in Brindisi, Taranto and Cerignola that will be powered by 380 MW of solar capacity. Together, the three facilities will produce some 300 million cubic metres of green hydrogen a year.

According to the announcement, the Brindisi project has already entered the authorisation process. This scheme calls for the installation of 60 MW of solar-powered electrolysers.

The primary use of the output of the plants will be to supply local industries, including through injecting or blending the hydrogen into Snam’s local gas network. It will also be employed for sustainable mobility.

The entire project in Puglia will involve key regional players such as the Acquedotto Pugliese water supply company, the Appulo Lucane Railways, the region’s technological and production districts, the Polytechnic of Bari, the Universities of Bari, Foggia and Salento.