Nippon Gases to produce green CO2 from Enel geothermal facility, Italy

Piancastagnaio geothermal power plant in Siena, Italy (source: YouTube screenshot / Enel Green Power)

Carlo Cariaga 26 Apr 2023

Nippon Gases Operations, part of the Nippon Gases Italia group, will be working with Enel Green Power to produce green carbon dioxide (CO2) using the geothermal resources at the Piancastagnaio power plant in the province of Siena, Italy.

Nippon Gases will build a new facility for the purification and liquefaction of the CO2 from the geothermal fluids being harnessed by the Piancastagnaio geothermal power plant. This green CO2 will then be sold to the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical markets. According to Nippon Gases, the volume of green CO2 from this project can account for about 30% of the nationwide demand for pure CO2.

Enel Green Power operates the oldest geothermal complex in the world and is one of the largest power companies in Italy. With this project, Enel aims to maximize the use of their geothermal resources. We had previously reported on an agreement that Enel signed with Lampo Greengas on the offtake of CO2 from the Valle Secolo geothermal power plant in Tuscany.

“Our goal is to generate shared value that goes beyond the production of renewable energy, through projects that intercept the needs of people, the economy, the environment and the territory,” said Luca Solfaroli Camilocci, Head of Enel Green Power Italia.

The project is also in line the goal of Nippon Gases to meet the global decarbonization challenge as outlined in the company’s carbon neutrality strategy. It is the latest in a series of commitments made by the company within the Nippon Sanso Holdings Corporation (NSHD) geared towards clean energy.

“The high reliability of Enel Green Power plants combined with modern and efficient gas purification techniques and the use of a natural product will allow the improvement of services rendered to our customers while always respecting the environment and under the banner of sustainability, core business values of Nippon Gases,” stated Raoul Giudici, President of Nippon Gases Italia Group.

Source: GasWorld