Coldiretti and Italgas Sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the Development of Biomethane

(Italgas (Google Translation)) The commitment, signed in the presence of Deputy Minister Gava, aims to encourage the construction of new plants, the conversion of those currently producing biogas and the connection to gas distribution networks -- National Confederation Coldiretti , the main organization of agricultural entrepreneurs at national and European level, and Italgas, the first operator in Italy and Greece in gas distribution and third in Europe, signed today at the Ministry of Agricultural Policies, Food and Forestry a memorandum of understanding aimed at encouraging the development of biomethane production in Italy.

The initiative is part of the changed European scenario which, following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, has identified biomethane as the renewable source destined to replace a quarter of the fossil gas supplies once imported from Russia. An objective in support of which the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) has allocated 1.7 billion euros to achieve, by 2026, a national production of approximately 2 billion cubic meters per year, equal to four times that current.

The President of Coldiretti, Ettore Prandini , and the CEO of Italgas, Paolo Gallo , signed the commitment, in the presence of the Deputy Minister for the Environment and Energy Security , Hon. Vannia Gava.

The protocol commits the parties to implement actions aimed at supporting the construction of new biomethane production plants, the conversion of those currently producing biogas and their connection to gas distribution networks.

“The signing of the memorandum of understanding between Coldiretti and Italgas is an important step for Italy in the development path of biomethane. - declared the Undersecretary of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, Sen. Patrizio Giacomo La Pietra - Agriculture can and must play its part in this path of renewable energy production, which the Government is following with conviction. We want to give our country clean energy at low costs and the protocol signed today goes precisely in the direction we have set ourselves, especially in light of the international scenarios in which we are moving and which see not only Italy, but also our European partners and the most developed countries, engaged in an effort aimed at developing alternative and environmentally friendly energy sources".

The Deputy Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Hon . Vannia Gava said:

" The agreement between Coldiretti and Italgas is a significant step in promoting sustainable development in Italy, but also a decisive contribution to strengthening our supply autonomy through the diversification and decarbonisation of sources, in line with the line dictated by the EU in REPowerEU. This agreement will allow the construction of new plants, the conversion of existing ones and the connection to gas distribution networks. The effort of the companies, the steering role assumed by the association and the strategic contribution of Italgas are important, just as it is important to redistribute the burdens of the costs of connecting the plants to the distribution networks in order to encourage investments. We are confident that this effort will contribute significantly to achieving the objectives of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, bringing advantages both for the environment and for the Italian economy."

“Agriculture wants to be the protagonist of the production of renewable energy, which is why we are working together to counteract the increase in costs for families and businesses – underlined the president of Coldiretti Ettore Prandini -. The role of biogas within the scope of clean energy represents, in fact, an unavoidable starting point since from the use of waste from crops and livestock it is possible to achieve the creation of systems for the distribution of biomethane at a national level to fuel not only machinery agricultural but also buses, trucks and ships as well as the cars of Italian families. In this way it will be possible to generate a virtuous cycle of resource management, cutting waste, reducing polluting emissions, creating new jobs and developing scientific research on green fuels".

“ I think that biomethane is the ideal solution, and immediately available – commented the CEO of Italgas, Paolo Gallo – to the complex equation that Europe is dealing with: achieving an ecological transition that guarantees security of supply and competitiveness of costs of energy. With biomethane all this is possible: it has equivalent CO2 equal to zero and even negative in the case of CO2 sequestration. It is produced using a variety of scraps and waste and helps to contain costs thanks to its great production potential. With the signing of the memorandum of understanding, an important collaboration with Coldiretti begins which I am sure will allow us to give rapid concreteness and development to this new source of energy, creating value for the country". READ MORE