Trieste—Snam and A2A signed a memorandum of understanding on technological cooperation with the aim of studying projects aimed at developing the use of hydrogen in the context of the decarbonisation of the energy sector in Italy and the European Hydrogen Strategy.
The agreement was signed on Friday by the CEOs of Snam, Marco Alverà, and A2A, Renato Mazzoncini, during the scientific research festival Trieste Next, in the presence of the Minister of Economic Development Stefano Patuanelli.
The cooperation, to be developed in compliance with the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, will focus primarily on the study, analysis and feasibility assessment of projects for the conversion of A2A’s thermal power plants from coal to natural gas, hydrogen or natural gas/hydrogen mixtures. The two companies will also study solutions to retrofit A2A’s existing gas turbines with a combined cycle of hydrogen or natural gas/hydrogen mixtures and production initiatives, storage and transport of hydrogen from renewable sources and the modification of A2A’s gas distribution infrastructure in order to make them “hydrogen ready”.
The memorandum will eventually be subject of successive binding agreements that the parties will define in compliance with the applicable regulatory profiles.
Snam CEO Marco Alverà commented: “The collaboration with A2A is a first step in testing the potential of hydrogen in the decarbonisation of electricity production and gas distribution networks. In addition to working to make Snam’s infrastructure ‘hydrogen ready’, we want to provide our expertise and make a system to accelerate the introduction of green hydrogen in the Italian energy sector. The aim is to develop a national supply chain that, , can contribute to the achievement of the Green Deal’s emission reduction targets in line with the provisions of the European Hydrogen Strategy, as well as to the creation of new development and employment opportunities in our country”.
A2A CEO Renato Mazzoncini said: “We are satisfied with this agreement, a further acceleration along the path of the energy transition is already being undertaken by our Group, consistent with our strategies on the circular economy and decarbonisation. This is an interesting opportunity for us to enhance the multiutility nature of A2A both in energy production and distribution. Collaboration with Snam will be an important opportunity to enhance Italian’s supply chain of key infrastructures to achieve the European zero emissions target of 2050”.
Snam
Snam is one of the world’s leading energy infrastructure companies and one of the largest Italian listed companies by capitalisation. Through its international subsidiaries, it also operates in Albania, Austria, China, France, Greece and the United Kingdom; it also holds a stake in the energy networks of the United Arab Emirates. First in Europe for natural gas transmission network and storage capacity, the company is also among the main operators in regasification. As part of a €6.5 billion plan for 2023, Snam invests €1.4 billion in the Snamtec project aimed at innovation and the development of new businesses in the energy transition, from sustainable mobility to biomethane and energy efficiency. Snam also aims to enable and promote the development of hydrogen to encourage the decarbonisation of the energy sector and industry. The company’s business model is based on sustainable growth, transparency, the enhancement of talents and diversity, and the protection and social development of territories through the Snam Foundation.
A2A
The A2A Group is the largest Italian multiutility with more than 12,000 employees. Listed on the Italian Stock Exchange, the Group is a leader in Italy in the environmental sector along the entire value chain of waste management, from collection to recovery of materials and energy. As the second largest operator in Italy for installed capacity, A2A also manages the generation, sale and distribution of electricity and gas, district heating, waste collection and recovery, electric mobility, public lighting and integrated water service. The A2A Business Model aims to create sustainable and shared value over time for the company and for the reference communities: to operate wit
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