Saipem's Bluenzyme technology is expected to be applied to capture CO₂ emissions at the waste-to-energy plant of the subsidiary Herambiente in Ferrara.
It will be the first industrial-scale example of CCS applied to a plant of this type in Italy.
The project is one of the main decarbonisation levers in the multi-utility's Climate Transition Plan to reduce internal
emissions.
It aims to capture carbon dioxide emitted from the waste-to-energy plant’s chimneys and storing it in depleted natural
gas fields, thereby significantly reducing plant emissions while contributing to the decarbonisation of local
areas.
The project was proposed by Hera Group, as the lead partner, in collaboration with Saipe, and it has been selected to receive funding under the fourth call for mid-scale projects from the EU Innovation Fund.
Once the allocation is finalized, the funding for the CO₂ emission capture project will amount to nearly €24 million.
This industrial CO₂ capture project is the first of its kind in Italy designed for waste-to-energy plants and among the first in Europe.
It involves the application of Bluenzyme™, Saipem's proprietary and modular solution based on “CO₂ Solutions”, an innovative enzymatic technology for capturing carbon dioxide in industrial processes of small and medium emitters.
The initiative was selected by European authorities for its high level of innovation, and its potential replicability in other waste-to-energy plants and other hard-to-abate industrial sectors in Italy, and more generally across Europe.
The European Funds will cover a significant portion of the €53 million planned for the construction of the CO₂ capture plant.
Depending on opportunities arising from changes in the regulatory framework, the plant is expected to be operational by 2028.
The project will fully abate CO₂ emissions from the Ferrara waste-to-energy plant
“We achieved the highest score in the European Innovation Fund call: this confirms the highly innovative nature
of this initiative. This is a very significant achievement, which sees us as pioneers in Italy with this industrial-
scale CO₂ capture solution, applied to waste-to-energy plants," said Orazio Iacono, CEO of Hera Group.
"As leaders in the environmental sector, we are paving the way for innovation in this field, leveraging investments and expertise. This is a safe technology and replicable in other plants in Italy and abroad, which combines circular economy activities aimed at material recovery with decarbonisation processes. With this solution, in a crucial sector like waste treatment and energy generation, we extend the lifespan of plants while increasing their resilience. This technology is among the main internal levers for reducing Scope 1 emissions outlined in our Climate Transition Plan."
“The recognition from the EU Innovation Fund confirms the high level of innovation in Saipem’s Bluenzyme
technology for the decarbonization of small and medium emitters in hard-to-abate sectors with a unique project
for Italy and in Europe that strengthens our company's role in supporting its clients in their journey towards
carbon neutrality”, declared Alessandro Puliti, CEO of Saipem.
EU awards £24m to Hera Group and Saipem’s CO₂ capture project
