Italian Airport Gets Hydrogen Ready
Snam Group has been awarded a contract to build a 1.2-MW, hydrogen-ready fuel cell system for Italy’s Torino Airport. The fuel cell, designed and developed by Snam’s Hydrogen Business Unit in partnership with FuelCell Energy, is the first of its kind and size in Italy that can be fueled with variable percentages of hydrogen blended with natural gas for the combined generation of electricity and heat.
“Hydrogen will play a key role in the pursuit of net-zero emissions in many sectors, including airport and port infrastructure,” said Marco Alverà, CEO of Snam. “With this agreement, we are providing Torino Airport with an effective and innovative energy solution that will immediately reduce emissions and integrate increasing amounts of hydrogen to achieve carbon neutrality.”
The fuel cell system can produce up to 1.2 MWh of electricity and 840 kWh of heat per hour and can be fueled by hydrogen mixed with up to 40% natural gas by volume. Compared to traditional cogeneration, the use of natural gas-fueled fuel cells guarantees the substantial elimination of particulate emissions and a savings in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of 1630 tonnes per year, according to Snam.
“The implementation of this solution is the flagship project of our Torino Green Airport sustainability program, which was announced last July and includes all of the airport’s sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing environmental consumption and emissions, confirming our concrete commitment in this direction,” said Andrea Andorno, CEO of Torino Airport. “In Snam, we have found the right partner for the implementation of an innovative project, which immediately contributes to the creation of demand for clean energy such as hydrogen and other gaseous carriers from certified renewable sources, a fundamental step to concretely start the country’s energy transition. This project will also enable us to anticipate our goal of zero emissions by 2050.”
The fuel cell will be installed at Torino Airport in Q2 2023.
