Edison and Snam have partnered with Saipem and Alboran to produce 220 MW of green hydrogen from three production plants in the Brindisi, Taranto and Cerignola areas of the Puglia Region. The Brindisi project has already started the authorization process.

The aim of this project is to help accelerate the uptake of green hydrogen - one of the key components of the EU's decarbonisation strategy - within Italy's energy mix to ensure national and European climate neutrality targets are met by 2050.

The Puglia Green Hydrogen Valley project plans to build three green hydrogen production plants in Brindisi, Taranto and Cerignola (Foggia) for a combined capacity of 220 MW and powered by a photovoltaic production of 380 MW in total. Once the three plants are operational, it is forecasted that they will be able to produce about 300 MMm³ of renewable hydrogen every year. 

This green hydrogen will be used primarily for local industries, including through injecting – or blending - the hydrogen into Snam's local gas network and/or employed for sustainable mobility.

For one of these three plants, the authorisation process is already underway for the Brindisi project which will involve the construction of a production plant for green hydrogen using electrolyzers with a capacity of 60 MW that will be powered by a PV farm. 

The entire Puglia Green Hydrogen Valley project will enable to sustain and involve key regional players, including the Acquedotto Pugliese water supply company, the Appulo Lucane Railways, Puglia’s technological and production districts, the Polytechnic of Bari, the Universities of Bari, Foggia and Salento. Moreover, there will be investments in the research and development aimed at promoting the creation and development of competencies and a production chain dedicated to the hydrogen industry in Puglia.

In order to execute the project, the partners anticipate creating a special purpose company (Alboran 30%, Edison 30%, Snam 30%, Saipem 10%) following the signing of binding agreements that still have to be negotiated by the parties, based on the relevant regulatory frameworks, including the ones concerning operations among related parties.