Italy: Snam’s New Partnership Will Promote LNG and Bio-LNG Mobility

(Snam/NGV Journal) Snam and SIAD, chemical group in the production and supply of industrial gases, have signed a framework agreement to start a technological collaboration to develop small-scale and mid-scale plants for the liquefaction of natural gas and biomethane, on behalf of third-party customers. The aim of the agreement is to foster the use of LNG and bio-LNG as alternative fuels for sustainable mobility and other end uses.

The facilities proposed by Snam and SIAD will be modular and standardized, with capacities ranging from 50 ktpa (kilo-tons per year) to 100 ktpa in the case of small-scale plants and from 200 ktpa upwards for mid-scale plants. They will use Italian technology, based on an energy-optimized cryogenic nitrogen cycle through the use of two machines (expanders/compressors). The savings compared to a traditional solution can be as much as 30% of the cost of the plant.

“With this agreement, Snam is entering the liquefaction infrastructure sector, which will be key to enable sustainable mobility by road, rail and potentially sea, as well as decarbonizing other energy uses. LNG, especially in its ‘bio’ version, makes it possible to reduce both polluting and CO2 emissions, making a decisive contribution to air quality and the fight against climate change, and to boosting the circular economy, optimizing the management of the waste cycle and agricultural and food waste. Thanks to this collaboration with SIAD, we will make an innovative energy transition solution available to both Italy and other countries,” said Marco Alverà, CEO of Snam.

Roberto Sestini, Chair of SIAD, commented: “This important agreement reached with Snam for the development of methane and biomethane liquefaction plants was also made possible thanks to the expertise and technical experience of the SIAD Group. More than 500 plants have been built and installed in different parts of the world for the production of oxygen, nitrogen and argon, which all require the liquefaction of air. Based on this technological knowledge, it has been possible to design different sizes of methane liquefaction plants with efficient energy consumption and cost savings”.

As part of the collaboration between Snam and SIAD, a project will be launched in Campania in 2021, with a capacity of 50 ktpa (small-scale), which has already obtained European funding. The plants, which will be operated by Snam, will also ensure the security of LNG and bio-LNG supply to other regions of Southern Italy, shortening the chain between supply and end users and serving a rapidly growing market. LNG trucks have registered quite an increase in Italy in the last five years from fewer than 100 to about 3,000 units and there are now around 90 filling stations.

Thanks to their versatility, liquefaction plants, in addition to fueling sustainable mobility, will also be functional for other uses, such as converting power generation from diesel to natural gas and some energy-intensive industrial processes. READ MORE

Excerpt from NGV Journal: Two new natural gas refueling stations have been inaugurated in Pomigliano d’Arco (Naples) and Anagni (Frosinone) strengthening the supply of CNG in Campania and Lazio, where are currently operating 117 and more than 80 natural gas and biomethane stations respectively. The facilities were developed by Snam4mobility in partnership with Energas, leading company in the distribution and sale of alternative fuels, and AmeGas (Energas Group).

The CNG stations are part of the expansion plan of natural gas and biomethane refueling infrastructure promoted by Snam4mobility, a company wholly owned by Snam. As part of the agreement, Snam4Mobility and EnerGas will also create eight new facilities in Lazio, Campania and Calabria.

The new openings are also part of the commitment of Snam4Mobility to provide integrated services for sustainable “smart green” natural gas and biomethane mobility.

To strengthen the distribution network, Snam4Mobility develops CNG and bio-CNG distribution infrastructure for cars and LNG and bio-LNG for heavy transport throughout Italy. Snam’s 2020-2024 strategic plan envisages the construction of 150 new natural gas and biomethane stations and the launch of the first hydrogen refueling stations. READ MORE