Author: adigiuseppe

An innovative project set to launch in the coming weeks, accelerating the energy transition

Torre de’ Passeri (PE), 16 June 2026 – The operational protocol between Italgas, the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE), the Italian Gas Committee (CIG) and Società Gasdotti Italia (SGI) was signed today for a new major decarbonisation project that makes strategic use of existing infrastructure. The initiative will cover a portion of the territory of Torre de’ Passeri (PE), where a blend of natural gas and hydrogen will be injected into the gas distribution network, initially at 10% and subsequently at 20%.

More specifically, the project will involve approximately 5 kilometres of gas pipelines serving around 220 end users, who will face no additional costs on their bills and will not need to change their consumption habits. The natural gas-hydrogen blend is intended for standard domestic and civil uses such as cooking, heating and hot water production.

Any technical adjustments to internal systems and appliances will be covered by Italgas, while on the equipment side the project involves industrial partners Ariston, Glemgas and Baltur, leaders in their respective market segments. The project also benefits from the scientific contribution of the Politecnico di Milano and the Politecnico di Torino.

The initiative was developed through a gradual process: beginning with theoretical modelling and laboratory analysis, then moving to a “hydrogen house” model to assess real-scale operating conditions. Following validation of the results, the initiative was extended to the territory.

Throughout the project, Italgas will ensure continuous supervision, monitoring and oversight of all activities to guarantee full safety and to collect the data needed for a thorough and structured technical analysis of the findings.

Società Gasdotti Italia will be responsible for the blending of natural gas and hydrogen and for conveying the mixture to the distribution network, ensuring constant and centralised infrastructure monitoring through the deployment of state-of-the-art IoT (Internet of Things) communication systems.

“The Ministry has long promoted and supported projects for injecting hydrogen blends into isolated sections of distribution networks in Italy, in close collaboration with distribution operators and CIG,” said Marilena Barbaro, Director General of MASE. “The first pilot project in Emilia-Romagna has already concluded with positive results. With the outcomes of the Sestu and Torre de’ Passeri programmes, we could have a first comprehensive picture covering the different realities of Italian distribution networks.”

“The Torre de’ Passeri project is an example of research that is essential for any technological evolution in the sector,” stressed Stefano Cagnoli, Director General of CIG. “Since its founding in 1953, CIG’s mission has been to provide technical support for the evolution of the gas industry, with particular focus on safety, infrastructure efficiency and the innovations required by the decarbonisation of the energy sector. In this context, the framework agreement signed with MASE in November 2024 for the development of technical studies and research on natural gas and hydrogen blends for network injection has already enabled three operational projects to be launched, including Torre de’ Passeri. The results will be shared with the relevant authorities and institutions, thereby supporting the evolution of national regulation, a fundamental step for the consolidation of the sector.”

“We are proud that Torre de’ Passeri has been chosen for a project of national significance that we hope will serve as a model for other communities. Injecting a natural gas and hydrogen blend into the network allows our community to benefit directly from decarbonisation, reducing emissions with no impact on citizens’ daily habits,” said Giovanni Mancini, Mayor of Torre de’ Passeri.

“In recent years, Italgas has developed significant expertise in the production and use of hydrogen,” noted Pier Lorenzo Dell’Orco, CEO of Italgas Reti. “Injecting it into gas distribution networks delivers multiple benefits: a reduction in CO₂ emissions proportional to the share of hydrogen in the distributed blend, the enhancement of existing networks without the need for additional investment, and the assurance of energy continuity and security. Our experience demonstrates that the transformation of the energy system can be achieved by building on what already exists, innovating in a targeted way and laying the foundations for an increasingly sustainable, low-emission economy.”

“This project represents one of the first initiatives in Italy involving blending up to 20% that engages the entire gas infrastructure chain, from transport to distribution through to end customers. This is a significant step because it allows us to assess not only how current infrastructure performs, but also how domestic appliances behave with a natural gas and hydrogen blend under real conditions. For SGI, the initiative is also part of the process of upgrading its own network to make it progressively compatible with the transport of hydrogen up to 100%,” said Raffaele Maiello, Chief Operating Officer of Società Gasdotti Italia.

The initiative is part of a broader journey in which Italgas plays a leading role in the development and integration of highly sustainable energy vectors. Both Torre de’ Passeri and Hyround fit within this journey: Hyround is Italy’s first plant for the production of green hydrogen directly connected to an urban distribution network, inaugurated in recent months in Sestu (Cagliari). With the Abruzzo project, Italgas further expands its expertise in the use of hydrogen across different infrastructure contexts, consolidating a pragmatic and sustainable model of energy transition.

Milan, 1 June 2026 – Italgas informs that the Board of Directors of Enaon, the Group’s company operating in the gas distribution sector in Greece, has co-opted Gianfranco Amoroso and appointed him as the company’s Chief Executive Officer.

Gianfranco Amoroso boasts extensive experience in the financial sector and in M&A. He has been with Italgas since 2016 and currently holds the position of Head of International Operations.

Enaon holds natural gas distribution licences in 145 municipalities, of which 115 are in operation, serving approximately 650,000 active customers.

The open innovation initiative seeks advanced solutions and technologies to continue the digital transformation of networks in support of the transition towards a zero-emission economy.

Turin, 26 May 2026 – The Italgas Group and the Innovative Companies Incubator of Politecnico di Torino (I3P) present a new initiative, entitled “Shaping the Future of Energy Networks“, to explore the national and international innovation ecosystem, with the aim of gathering and analysing advanced solutions and technologies capable of continuing to contribute to the digital transformation of energy infrastructures.

Technological innovation developed by research teams and young companies is indeed an important enabling factor for the further evolution of large infrastructures. The new call launched by Italgas and I3P, within the framework of the open innovation programme “Ideas 4 Italgas” initiated in 2020, aims to identify project proposals capable of contributing to the strengthening of the resilience, intelligence and security of gas and water networks, as well as to the transition towards zero or low-emission energy systems, fostering digitalisation, operational efficiency, the integration of renewable gases and sustainable long-term decarbonisation models.

The best candidate projects will have the opportunity to engage with Italgas and the Group’s subsidiaries, as well as to receive a range of potential benefits and support for their further development on the market. Participation in the initiative offers, in fact, the possibility of obtaining resources from Italgas to develop a Proof-of-Concept (PoC), i.e. a first concrete application aimed at verifying the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed solution in the field; but also of benefiting from Italgas Mentorship, to explore the possible integration of the product or service into business processes, as well as of entering one of I3P’s incubation programmes aimed at refining the entrepreneurial knowledge and skills necessary for the maturation of the project, supporting the search for external funding and fostering their networking. The ultimate goal is to guide the most promising solutions towards progressive large-scale adoption within the Italgas Group, facilitating their validation in the sector.

The call focuses on two main areas of interest. The first is “Resilient Grid“, solutions to make gas and water distribution networks smarter, safer and more resilient to external events and self-adaptive to operating conditions, through the use of both digital technologies – such as artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced sensors – and new construction methodologies. The second area, “Energy Transition“, encompasses the optimisation of resource use and the transition towards low-emission energy systems, enabling the development of decarbonisation technologies.

The initiative is open to working groups and incorporated companies. To be eligible, candidate projects must be at one of three stages of maturity: “Idea“, capable of being translated into a prototype by 2027; “MVP“, i.e. a prototype capable of opening new market segments and opportunities; “Products on the market“, meaning products and services already commercialised or ready for launch.

Participation in the initiative is free of charge: project applications, in Italian or English, must be submitted on the Ideas 4 Italgas website by the deadline of Friday, 31 July 2026. All applications received will be evaluated by October, and the final award ceremony for the winners will be held in Turin in November.

“In recent years our Group has undergone a profound transformation, grounded in the digitalisation of assets, technological innovation and, of course, a concrete commitment to serving the energy transition”, said Leonardo Ambrosi, Group Innovation Officer at Italgas. “In this context, Open Innovation has established itself not only as an enabler of development, but as a strategic driver capable of accelerating change and generating value. With this new call, we further strengthen this approach, once again opening up dialogue with the external ecosystem to capture new ideas, expertise and solutions capable of contributing to the sustainable growth of the Italgas Group.”

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate once again with the Italgas Group, an international organisation that has placed technological evolution and a commitment to sustainability at the heart of its strategic vision”, commented Giuseppe Scellato, President of I3P. “This year too, as in 2021 and 2024, the open innovation initiative by Italgas and I3P will offer startups and teams of innovators a concrete opportunity for direct engagement with a major industry player, possibilities for joint experimentation and entrepreneurial growth, with the expert guidance of the incubator’s specialists.”

Italgas S.p.A.

Italgas is a Network Tech Company, leader in the sectors of gas distribution, water services, energy efficiency and IT. Following the acquisition of 2i Rete Gas, its main competitor, Italgas has become the leading operator in gas distribution in Europe, managing a network of over 150,000 kilometres and more than 12 million customers in Italy and Greece. Through its subsidiaries in the water sector, the Group provides services, directly and indirectly, to 6.3 million people, equal to 10% of the Italian population, primarily in the Lazio, Sicily and Campania regions. Founded in 1837, Italgas is recognised as the company that brought gas into Italian homes, contributing significantly to the economic and social development of the country. Today Italgas is a company looking towards the future, with clear growth and development objectives. It is implementing an ambitious investment plan to expand its services and improve efficiency through digital technologies. These innovations not only optimise network management, but also prepare the gas infrastructure for the integration of renewable gases such as biomethane, synthetic methane and hydrogen.

For further information: www.italgas.it

I3P – Incubatore del Politecnico di Torino S.c.p.a.

The Innovative Companies Incubator of Politecnico di Torino (I3P) supports the creation and development of innovative startups with high technological intensity and growth potential, founded both by university researchers and students, and by external entrepreneurs, providing strategic consulting services, coaching, mentoring, fundraising support and workspaces. Founded in 1999, I3P is a consortium company with share capital, with shareholders including the Politecnico di Torino, Fondazione LINKS, the Turin Chamber of Commerce, Finpiemonte, the Metropolitan City of Turin and Fondazione Piemonte Innova; to date it has incubated over 400 startups. I3P’s mission is to support the entrepreneurship ecosystem, with the objective of generating economic development and employment in innovative industrial supply chains. I3P adopts a strategy of collaboration with institutions and private entities engaged in research and higher education, technology transfer services, innovation financing, and internationalisation towards new markets.

For further information: www.i3p.it

Tokyo, 12 May 2026 – Italgas and Tokyo Gas Network today renewed, at the Italian Embassy in Tokyo, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation in the strategic areas of gas distribution and at fostering the development of joint projects. The Memorandum was signed by Paolo Gallo, CEO of Italgas, and Satoshi Tanazawa, CEO of Tokyo Gas Network, in the presence of the Italian Ambassador to Tokyo, Mario Vattani.

“We are very pleased to host at the Italian Embassy in Tokyo the renewal of the collaboration between Italgas and Tokyo Gas Network, on the 160th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations,” – declared the Italian Ambassador to Japan, Mario Vattani -. “In the current geopolitical context, this Agreement represents a further step forward towards greater energy security and contributes to strengthening supply chains, in the spirit of the Special Strategic Partnership announced between the two Governments in January 2026 and in line with the directives of the Italy-Japan Business Group, of which Italgas is a founding member”.

“We are honored to have reached an agreement to further deepen our strategic partnership with Italgas, the leading European gas distributor – said Satoshi Tanazawa, CEO of Tokyo Gas Network –. Their advanced expertise in digitization will be a powerful driver in enhancing our operational capabilities. By continuously exchanging our respective know-how, we aim to drive operational efficiency through improved productivity, while fulfilling our mission of ensuring a stable energy supply and maintaining safety. Through this collaboration, we are committed to achieving the sustainable growth of our network business and contributing to the evolution of a resilient energy infrastructure”.

“International dialogue and partnerships with leading players are essential pillars of our growth path – said Paolo Gallo, CEO of Italgas -. The renewal of the agreement with Tokyo Gas Network consolidates a valuable relationship and enables us to further accelerate the development of increasingly digital, resilient and sustainable networks. In particular, this collaboration allows us to leverage complementary expertise in key areas such as advanced infrastructure digitalisation, the strengthening of network resilience also in complex environments, and the evolution of grids to accommodate growing volumes of renewable gases”.

Through the Memorandum, the two companies will continue to share expertise and best practices to foster innovation, resilience and sustainable development of gas distribution networks. The cooperation will focus in particular on:

• Infrastructure resilience and safety: exchange of know-how to enhance the networks’ capacity to respond to extreme events and complex operating conditions.
• Technological innovation and digitalisation: development and deployment of advanced technological solutions to optimise network management and improve operational efficiency.
• Supply chain: cooperation on advanced procurement models to enhance performance, quality and sustainability.