Energetica India Magazine -October 2020

NEWS HYDROGEN FUEL Gruppo FS Italiane, Snam Partner to Promote Study in Hydrogen Rail Transport Snam Partners with British ITM Power to focus on Green Hydrogen Technologies With an aim to rapidly convert diesel trains into hydrogen in Italy, FS Italiane Group and Snam have signed a Mem- orandum of Understanding (MoU) to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility and consider new business models relating to the development of a hydrogen rail transport. The agreement was signed by the CEOs of Gruppo FS Italiane, Gianfranco Battisti, and Marco Alverà of Snam, and is aimed at implementing analyses and feasibility studies and developing joint projects on railway lines that can be converted to hydrogen on the national territory. In particular, the two companies will set up a working group with the aim of as- sessing possible pilot projects involving the replacement of fossil fuels with hy- drogen. The companies will experiment with in- novative technological solutions related to the production, transport, compres- sion, storage, supply and utilization of hydrogen to contribute to the develop- ment of sustainable mobility, also by taking part in joint initiatives potentially object to financing or public tenders. Commenting on the deal, Marco Alverà, CEO of Snam, said that “with this agree- ment, we are taking an important step in promoting a hydrogen value chain in Italy starting from sectors that are cru- cial for decarbonisation such as the transport of people and goods. Thanks to the collaboration between FS Italiane and Snam, we aim to create infrastruc- ture to rapidly convert trains currently powered by diesel in Italy to hydrogen, thus gaining a technological leadership to be capitalized also at an international level.” Thus, any development of the partner- ship will be disciplined by the signing of specific agreements between the parties. With an aim to gain understanding for the development of green hydrogen, Italian energy infrastructure company Snam has entered into a partnership agreement with ITM Power Plc, one of the major global manufacturers of electrolysers, essential components in obtaining hydrogen from renewable sources through the electrolysis of wa- ter. The agreement envisages the start of a commercial and technological col- laboration for the development of future joint initiatives and the concurrent entry of Snam into the shareholder structure of ITM Power Plc with a minority stake and investment of 30 million pounds (about 33 million euros) as part of the capital increase of 150 million pounds (about 165 million euros) offered for subscription, as well as to Snam, to in- stitutional investors and shareholders. The subscription of the shares as part of the ITM Power capital increase will take place in cash, using Snam’s finan - cial resources. As part of the partnership, Snam will have the opportunity to gain relevant technical skills in the sector, with the entry of its representatives in two com- mittees (Strategic Advisory Committee and Technology Management Com- mittee) that support the board of ITM Power in key decisions on commercial activities and research & development. The agreement follows the recent launch of the Hydrogen Strategy of the European Commission, which en- visages the development of 40GW of green hydrogen in the European Union by 2030. Several European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain, have already prepared or announced the launch of plans to develop hydrogen. Commenting on the development, Mar- co Alverà, CEO, Snam, said we want to develop new projects and contribute to enabling the supply chain, both in- ternationally and in particular in Italy, which has the opportunity to become a green hydrogen hub between Europe and North Africa. Our goal is to help es- tablish hydrogen and renewable gas- es, together with renewable electricity, as decisive solutions to achieve the in- ternational climate neutrality goals.” 10 energetica INDIA- October_2020