H2SITE and SNAM to collaborate in a hydrogen and natural gas separation project.
H2SITE has announced an agreement with SNAM, one of Europe's leading energy infrastructure operators, to work together on an innovative project focused on the separation of hydrogen and natural gas mixtures. The project is being promoted by the Italian Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment (ARERA).
As part of this initiative, H2SITE has designed a Pd alloy membrane separator capable of extracting hydrogen from concentrations of 2% to 10%. Once built, this unit will be the largest installation of its kind, capable of separating hydrogen at low concentrations while achieving high recovery rates.
The Pd alloy membrane separator enables the recovery of a high-purity hydrogen stream for direct use in fuel cells, gas engines and high-temperature furnaces, amongst other applications. At the same time, it minimises the hydrogen content in the remaining natural gas, avoiding unwanted alterations in its composition. This is particularly important for industrial consumers whose processes cannot tolerate significant concentrations of hydrogen, and ensures compliance with local regulations in the gas network. H2SITE membranes will operate at pressures above 50 bar, a relevant test point for large-scale hydrogen storage applications such as salt caverns or depleted reservoirs.
This new project further consolidates H2SITE's strategic collaboration with major infrastructure players such as transmission system operators (TSOs), distribution system operators (DSOs) and other stakeholders in hydrogen separation. Additionally, and thanks to the support of ARERA, the start-up is consolidating its commercial presence in the Italian market, fostering collaboration and promoting the adoption of innovative technologies for the energy transition in the country.
This initiative marks a significant step towards decarbonising the energy sector, leveraging existing infrastructure, such as gas pipelines, and incorporating new solutions, such as salt caverns, to facilitate the integration of hydrogen as a clean and renewable energy source. Through advanced separation solutions, H2SITE and SNAM are helping to make hydrogen a key resource for the future of sustainable energy.
Source: Business Wire
