Italy Unveils Modena Hydrogen Valley in Renewable Energy Milestone

Snam, headquartered in Milan, Italy, has officially launched the Modena Hydrogen Valley, a groundbreaking initiative and a cornerstone project for the development of renewable hydrogen to facilitate Italy's energy transition. The announcement came with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at Modena City Hall, solidifying a partnership between Snam and the Hera Group to establish a hydrogen production hub. This hub is designed to contribute significantly to the decarbonization efforts in Emilia-Romagna, with a focus on building a robust supply chain for renewable energy carriers in a region known for its entrepreneurial spirit.

At the core of Modena’s Hydrogen Valley lies IdrogeMO, a collaborative project between the Hera Group and Snam. This project aims to establish a production hub capable of generating up to 400 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually, with provisions for future expansion.

The potential impact of Modena’s Hydrogen Valley extends beyond environmental benefits, with early recognition in the mobility sector. Local public transport companies Seta and Tper are planning to transition part of their fleets to hydrogen-powered vehicles. Industries in the region, particularly in the automotive sector and the ceramics district, have also expressed interest in leveraging green hydrogen to decarbonize their production processes. The involvement of key stakeholders such as the Democenter Sipe Foundation, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Production Areas Consortium further underscores the collaborative effort to drive the adoption of hydrogen in various market segments.

The 6-megawatt photovoltaic park, featuring an innovative floating solar panel system, will be situated on the depleted landfill of the Municipality of Modena. This eco-friendly approach contributes to a circular economy without utilizing additional land. The photovoltaic system will power an electrolyser, located in a disused industrial area in Via Caruso, Modena, capable of extracting hydrogen from water through electrolysis. To ensure uninterrupted operation during periods without sunlight or at night, a battery will be incorporated for energy storage.

The hydrogen produced at the Modena plant is earmarked for use by the local public transport company Seta, with plans to purchase 12 buses funded through the NRRP. This initiative is expected to cover approximately 50 tonnes of hydrogen per year, reducing CO2 emissions by 737 tonnes annually compared to diesel buses.

The commitment of Seta and Tper to convert part of their bus fleets to hydrogen aligns with the broader goal of promoting sustainable mobility in the Emilia-Romagna region. Hydrogen's suitability for daily long-distance vehicles, particularly buses operating on rural routes, is recognized due to its greater autonomy compared to electricity. The time required to refuel these vehicles is also comparable to conventional fuels, making hydrogen a viable and sustainable solution for enhancing regional mobility.