Italian energy group Edison has inaugurated a new gas power station near Venice, which is designed to operate on a hydrogen-gas mix in the future, making it even less polluting.
With an initial investment of approximately 400 million euros ($438 million), Edison transformed an old plant into a state-of-the-art thermoelectric facility in Porto Marghera. The plant currently has an installed capacity of 780 MW and an impressive energy efficiency rate of 63%, resulting in a significant reduction of carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions, up to 30% and 70% respectively compared to similar plants in Italy.
While the plant is not yet ready to run on hydrogen due to the current competitiveness of green hydrogen production against natural gas, Edison CEO Nicola Monti emphasized the company's commitment to transitioning to more sustainable practices. He stated that they are exploring the possibility of converting the plant in the future, aiming to utilize it in an even more environmentally friendly manner. The Italian government sees hydrogen power as a promising technology for achieving its renewable energy targets, with plans to increase power generation from renewables to two-thirds of the total by 2030. Edison's investment plan of 10 billion euros by 2030, with half dedicated to expanding renewable energy, reflects its commitment to the country's energy transition and sustainability goals.
Source: reuters.com