Energy: ENEA and Shell Energy together to develop Italian hydrogen supply chain

Signed collaboration agreement for the country's energy transition through decarbonisation of energy-intensive companies

ENEA and Shell Energy Italia have signed a three-year collaboration agreement to  research and develop innovative technologies in the hydrogen field, with particular focus on the decarbonisation of energy-intensive sectors. The goal is to create sustainable energy solutions and promote the conversion of industrial processes to hydrogen, in particular green hydrogen, to support the country's energy transition. The agreement provides for the creation of specific working groups for research activities, joint feasibility studies and analyses of industrial plants with high energy consumption in the steel, cement, glass, ceramic, paper and aluminum sectors.

The agreement between ENEA and Shell Energy Italia also includes innovative and technologically advanced solutions to boost "green" hydrogen production through water electrolysis projects integrated and powered by renewable solar energy generation, storage processes of hydrogen and its use in gas distribution networks.

"The agreement with Shell Energy Italia will allow to develop innovative technologies and solutions with a partner of international standing in projects for the production of hydrogen in Europe and in the decarbonisation of large industrial customers in Italy. The use of green hydrogen is strategic to reduce the environmental impact and achieve the objectives of the Paris climate agreements, the Green Deal and the Integrated National Plan for Energy and Climate", said Giorgio Graditi, Head of the ENEA Department of Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources. "The development of a national hydrogen supply chain is key to support the establishment of a hydrogen ecosystem in our country and within the Mediterranean basin".

"The strategic partnership with a major player like ENEA is a concrete expression of Shell's will and commitment to support the transition of the energy system to low-carbon technologies," said Massimiliano Mannino, President of Shell Energy Italia. "We believe that thanks to ENEA's long standing expertise and our knowledge of the market, gained by supplying gas and electricity to over 500 large commercial and industrial customers, we can launch innovative and sustainable solutions for the energy transition as well as promoting structural change of final energy consumption".