H2SITE, the Spanish startup specializing in hydrogen separation technologies, has announced an ambitious project in collaboration with Snam, the Italian gas grid operator. This project aims to separate hydrogen from natural gas blends, with the aim of optimizing the integration of this clean gas into existing energy infrastructure.
The project will mark a turning point in the industry, as, once completed, it will be the largest facility in the world capable of separating low-concentration hydrogen .
The hydrogen separation process
H2SITE will use its innovative palladium alloy membranes , capable of extracting hydrogen even when it constitutes between 2% and 10% of the mixture with natural gas.
According to the company, these membranes allow hydrogen recovery with a purity of 99.97%, making them the perfect solution for use in fuel cells for road transport vehicles. Furthermore, the membranes are manufactured at H2SITE’s plant in Bizkaia, with the capacity to produce thousands of units per year, significantly reducing renewable hydrogen conversion costs.
For its part, Snam has been a pioneer in the use of hydrogen within its gas networks. The collaboration with H2SITE is a further step in its efforts to develop sustainable solutions for Italy’s energy transition, especially considering the challenges posed by green hydrogen due to its cost and lower energy density compared to natural gas.
The Italian Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment (ARERA) is also involved in the project, ensuring that hydrogen separation does not affect the quality and stability of the natural gas reaching industrial consumers. This concern is key to the project’s success, as many industrial processes cannot tolerate high hydrogen concentrations.
With a significant $36 million investment in its latest funding round , H2SITE is backed by major funds such as the clean hydrogen-focused Hy24 Fund and Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures. This financial support strengthens the company’s ability to carry out its mission of transforming the energy industry through the use of clean technologies.
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Source: H2SITE
Photo: shutterstock
