Hyround, the first green hydrogen production plant in Italy to be directly connected to a city gas distribution network, was inaugurated in Sestu, near Cagliari. This landmark project, spearheaded by Italgas, marks a significant step in the nation’s energy transition, showcasing how gas infrastructure can integrate renewable sources to achieve decarbonization goals.
The ceremony was attended by key figures including the Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, the President of the Regional Council of Sardinia, Piero Comandini, and Italgas CEO Paolo Gallo.
A Leap into the Future of Energy
Minister Pichetto Fratin hailed the project as the energy transition “stepping out of textbooks and becoming an industrial and social reality.” He praised Sardinia for becoming a “national and European laboratory of tangible sustainability,” emphasizing the government’s belief in hydrogen’s central role.
Italgas CEO Paolo Gallo commented that investing in Hyround was “choosing the future,” stating that the plant demonstrates how research and development are key to accelerating the decarbonization of consumption. He highlighted that the project addresses the “energy trilemma”: security of supply, environmental sustainability, and cost competitiveness.
How Hyround Works
The million plant—which received million in funding from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP)—is based on Power-to-Gas technology. A MW electrolyser, powered by a co-located MW photovoltaic array of panels, converts electricity into hydrogen through water electrolysis.
Initially, Hyround will produce approximately tons of hydrogen per year, with plans to increase this to tons per year by 2028. The project covers the entire hydrogen value chain: production, storage, and distribution.
Multi-Sectoral Applications
The green hydrogen produced at Hyround is intended for multiple uses:
- Residential and Commercial: Blended with natural gas and injected into the city’s gas network for distribution to customers in Sestu, making it the first example in the EU of using a hydrogen-methane blend for end-use purposes.
- Transportation: Used in pure form to power a new fleet of public transport buses.
- Industry: Supplying the production process of a local dairy industry.
Sardinia: A Model for Integration
The choice of Sardinia was deliberate. The Italgas Group has developed the island’s gas networks as “native digital,” making them uniquely prepared to accommodate renewable gases like biomethane, synthetic methane, and hydrogen.
The project implements the principle of sector coupling, integrating gas and electricity systems to enhance the overall flexibility and resilience of the country’s energy system. Italgas Reti CEO Pier Lorenzo Dell’Orco commented that Hyround confirms the central role of gas distribution networks and makes Sestu a “virtuous and replicable model.” Furthermore, the project demonstrates hydrogen’s strategic importance as an energy storage solution, proving that converting renewable electricity into a clean carrier is an effective way to store energy.
The plant’s name, Hyround, is inspired by the principles of cyclicality, regeneration, and continuity—key elements of a sustainable energy future.
