(Finance) – Modena’s Hydrogen Valley project gets underway, among the first and most relevant for the development of renewable hydrogen. It was signed today memorandum of understanding for the creation of a hydrogen production hub built by Hera Group And Snam, with the aim of contributing to the decarbonisation of Emilia-Romagna. The development of a supply chain of this renewable energy carrier will also have important and positive consequences of an environmental, social and economic nature in a region with a strong entrepreneurial vocation.
The document was signed by Municipality of Modena, Hera Group, Snamtogether with a series of subjects such as Seta, Unimore, Agency for Energy and Sustainable Development (AESS), Consorzio Aree Prospettive (CAP), National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Development (ENEA), Fondazione Democenter Sipe and Modena Chamber of Commerce. Present at the signing the mayor of Modena Gian Carlo Muzzarellithe regional councilor for Economic Development Vincenzo Collathe CEO of the Hera Group Orazio Iaconothe Executive Director Decarbonization Unit of Snam Piero Ercolithe Magnificent Rector of Unimore Carlo Adolfo Porro, the president of Seta Alberto Cirellithe director of Aess Piergabriele Andreolithe president of the Modena Chamber of Commerce Giuseppe Molinarithe director of Cap Luca Biancucci, the president of the Democenter-Sipe Foundation Roberto Zani. He was also present Giuseppina Gualteripresident of Tper and sent a video message Giorgio Graditigeneral director of Enea.
It will be the fulcrum of Modena’s Hydrogen Valley IdrogeMOthe Hera Group and Snam project for the creation of a production hub capable of producing up to 400 tons of renewable hydrogen per year, with the possibility of future expansions to increase production. Overall, the planned investment amounts to over 20 million euros.
Given its relevance for the purposes of the energy transition and the decarbonisation of the territory, the partnership between Hera Group, Herambiente and Snam has already obtained last April from the Emilia-Romagna Region a 19.5 million loan of euros, allocated as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
The potential of Modena’s Hydrogen Valley has already been recognized by mobility sector: local public transport companies Silk and Tper in fact they plan to convert part of their fleet in hydrogen-powered vehicles. The same attention for the development of a green hydrogen supply chain has also been shown by the local industrial sector, with particular reference to automotive and so-called hard-to-abate companies ceramic district.
“Our commitment to hydrogen is one of the many expressions of the role that a multi-utility like the Hera Group, also through other projects – from the production of biomethane to other renewable energies – intends to play in the energy transition path of our cities. Emilia -Romagna from this point of view is an ideal territory for innovating and developing energy ecosystems, which represent the driving force of new opportunities to increase economic growth and the well-being of communities”, declared CEO of the Hera Group Orazio Iacono.
For the Executive Director Decarbonization Unit of Snam Piero Ercoli “The implementation of decarbonisation projects requires pragmatism and synergies between operators in the energy sector, which is fundamental to intercept the real needs of the industrial and civil fabric of the area. These are precisely the characteristics of Modena’s Hydrogen Valley, on which we are working with Hera as part of the IdrogeMO project, which attracted interest from industry and the tertiary sector in the area”.