Snam and De Nora for the hydrogen Made in Italy

At the end of 2020 Snam signed an agreement about De Nora, owned by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities for the purchase of a strategic stake of approximately 33% in Industrie De Nora, an industrial player in sustainable clean energy and water treatment technologies. On 11 June 2024, the laying of the foundation stone of the Italian green hydrogen gigafactory was celebrated in Cernusco sul Naviglio, in the metropolitan area of Milan.

De Nora’s Milanese foundation stone

The project is signed by Stefano Menotti Colucci & Partners Architects: “the new industry draws its strength from water and its molecules”. From water, the fertility driver of the Po Valley plain, also originates the GigaFactory, which is part of the Italian Hydrogen Valley loop. The project is part of a larger multi-year expansion plan for the De Nora Group’s production capacity and involves constructing a production center in Cernusco sul Naviglio, spanning approximately 25,000 square meters. The facility will serve as Italy’s primary hub for electrolyzers used in green hydrogen generation, systems, and components for water electrolysis and fuel cells, and will also be a modern facility serving De Nora’s other divisions. In addition to its value from an industrial point of view, the project stands out by its strong focus on sustainability and innovation, adopting a modern concept of industrial architecture based on low environmental impact criteria. DNHIT, in collaboration with the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, secured approximately EUR 32 million through a concession decree in July 2023. This funding supports companies participating in Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI Fund) and is financed by PNRR – National Recovery and Resilience Plan resources. Additional funding, up to approximately EUR 63 million, may be available to support the IPCEI Hydrogen. The initiative will support the reduction of electrolyzer production costs, making a significant contribution to meeting Europe’s projected final installed capacity and technology-neutrality target necessary linked to the energy transition process. The location of the Gigafactory in a primarily industrial and manufacturing area not far from Milan will contribute to local economic and employment growth, with the expectation of creating around 200 direct jobs and about 2,000 induced employment opportunities.
Construction is expected to be completed between late 2025 and early 2026.

De Nora CEO about Gigafactory

Paolo Dellachà, CEO of Industrie De Nora, commented: “We proudly announce the start of the construction works of the Gigafactory, an ambitious and unique project in terms of production capacity and size, which confirms De Nora’s centrality on the European scene as a facilitator of the energy transition process. On the outskirts of Milan will rise the production hub of the future, an example of virtuous unity between sustainability and innovation, where much of the Group’s Italian production activity will be concentrated. It will be an architecturally sustainable project, perfectly integrated into the territory where it rises. It will benefit the community, but above all, it will be the fulcrum of a production of technologies for green hydrogen that will have a positive impact on the international decarbonization process.”