Italgas has started the operation of Hyround, the first plant in Italy for the production of green hydrogen. production of green hydrogen directly connected to an urban gas distribution network. The project, developed in the city of Sestu (Sardinia), represents a commitment to a more sustainable and decarbonized energy system.
Green hydrogen plant and smart grid
Located in one of the most advanced gas infrastructures in the country, the plant employs electrolysis powered by renewable energies to generate hydrogen cleanly. This energy is injected into a native digital network equipped with state-of-the-art sensors capable of efficiently managing mixtures of hydrogen and methane. hydrogen and methane .
Households, industries and utilities in the area benefit from this new distribution model, which enables a low-carbon energy supply without modifying the existing infrastructure. In addition, smart meters have been installed to enable accurate management of consumption and the proportion of gases used.
Sardinia as an energy laboratory
The choice of Sardinia is not accidental. It is a region with limited connections to the national grid and a growing demand for energy, which makes it fertile ground for energy innovation projects.
The digital grids recently built on the island are ready to operate with biomethane, hydrogen and other renewable gases. renewable gases making Sestu an ideal environment for validating replicable technologies and models.
Concrete applications and strategic goals
Among the main objectives of the project is to validate the technical compatibility between existing gas networks and methane and hydrogen mixtures. It also seeks to generate useful technical information for future regulatory frameworks, to promote the use of hydrogen, and to use of hydrogen in local industries such as agri-food, and to encourage its adoption in urban public transport.
Hyround acts as a catalyst for synergies between public and private actors, integrating universities, research centers and local authorities into a forward-looking energy community. This ecosystem also seeks to generate social awareness of the potential of hydrogen as a key vector in the energy transition.
Source and photo: Italgas
