The energy transition represents a new industrial revolution, and it will have a very significant social impact in addition to the economic and technological aspects.
Ensuring an efficient ecological transition is a challenge that will require great efforts to develop innovative, but also socially sustainable, technologies. As the technical body of reference for Italy’s national gas industry, Comitato Italiano Gas (CIG, or the Italian Gas Committee), is committed to this challenge.
It is becoming increasingly evident there is a real need for a massive pre-normative activity which combines different skills and knowledge. Working together, we will be able to identify the necessary technological solutions needed for change.
The Italian Gas Committee, which is associated with Italy’s national standards body UNI, actively participates in the most important associations and bodies in the sector both at European and global level.
In particular, at European level, CIG participates as a representative for Italy in the work of CEN/CT 234, which deals with all gas infrastructures.
The CIG is also a Charter Member for Italy in Marcogaz, the European technical association of the gas industry. Meanwhile, at a global level, CIG collaborates through CEN in ISO activities and is a Charter Member for Italy in the International Gas Union (IGU), which represents the global gas industry with more than 150 members in over 80 countries, covering over 90% of the global gas market.
The working organisation of IGU covers the complete gas value chain, from the supply of natural and decarbonised gas, renewable gas and hydrogen, through their transmission and distribution, and all the way to the point of use.
Globally, natural gas is set to grow until at least 2029 and in the long term, according to Wood MacKenzie, 25% of energy in 2050 will come from natural gas, boosted by significative growth in the emerging Asian economies.
The use of new energy sources will be complemented by a strong commitment to decreasing the impact of traditional fuels, reducing fugitive emissions and increasing process efficiencies. In this context, CIG and RINA have already had the opportunity to collaborate profitably on several important projects and issues related to the use of new green gases and the optimization of the national gas system.
Dina Lanzi is the FSRU Commercial Interfaces Director for Italy’s Snam group, and also the president of Comitato Italiano Gas (CIG), which is responsible for developing standards for Italy’s combustible gas industry. In her role at Snam, she is responsible for the commercial activities of FSRUs and onshore plants.
With 25 years of experience in gas transmission, Dina developed her competencies in many sectors of the gas value chain, both technical and institutional. After a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, she began her career in an LNG plant. This was followed by both technical and institutional roles in pipeline maintenance management, metering and gas technical standards, where she also developed relationships with regulatory bodies.
In her previous roles, Dina was particularly responsible for decarbonization technical developments, with a special focus on hydrogen.
She is also a member of the board of Snam Rete Gas, and President of Teraga Holding.
The cruise sector has a clear ambition to pursue net zero emissions by 2050, which is consistent with the IMO strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships.
Liquified natural gas (LNG) remains a strong option for the cruise industry - with investment already started 15 years ago in anticipation of more stringent IMO emissions limits on NOx and SOx. Aside from the immediate benefits offered by LNG technology, ships designed with LNG engines and fuel supply systems will be able to switch to alternative fuels such as bio or synthetic LNG in the future, without the need for modifications.
Today, more than half of our ships on the orderbook have LNG engines as the main propulsion - which makes the use of bio-methane and e-methane one of the key energy solutions for the coming years. We take seriously the concerns relating to methane slip and welcome the significant progress made in recent years to address this issue. Innovations by engine manufacturers have resulted in a four-fold reduction in the last twenty years.
Work is underway to reduce further, and methane slip is on a path to be solved within the decade. Interestingly, methanol has also recently emerged as another option for the medium term with the launch already this year of methanol ready vessels which will be capable of using this fuel. Meanwhile, in the short term, for the majority of ships in CLIA’s member fleet, LNG and drop-in biofuels will remain the only option to meet the industry’s decarbonization objectives. Alternative energy sources also remain significantly more expensive than traditional fuels. This presents a challenge in terms of how to finance the necessary energy transition. As a solution-oriented industry, cruise lines continue to invest substantially in new ships, engines, and energy technologies that will allow the use of sustainable energy sources. These sources include internationally certified sustainable biofuels and synthetic e-fuels such as e-methane and e-methanol. Other sources being explored as part of hybrid solutions include electric batteries, bio-LNG, e-LNG, methanol and hydrogen fuel cells.
Sustainability also poses commercial challenges. To remain competitive and attract sustainability-conscious customers, cruise lines must address these aspects effectively. Cruise lines are investing millions to install shore power capabilities for their ships. This technology, introduced for the cruise industry more than 20 years ago, can reduce emissions by as much as 98%, allowing ships to switch off engines while at berth, and to plug into an onshore power source to maintain onboard services.
This year, we have seen a significant increase in the number of ships now equipped to be able to connect to onshore power.
Today, more than 60% of the cruise fleet by capacity has the technology required to plug in at the small percentage of ports that currently have the infrastructure. That is an increase of nearly 20% over the past year.
By 2028, 238 cruise ships will have this ability, double the number of ships that were able to do so last year. Currently, only around 35 ports worldwide have at least one cruise berth equipped with onshore power, representing less than 3% of cruise ports globally. As part of the EU’s Fit for 55 programme, by 2030, major ports in Europe will be required to have shoreside power, which will further accelerate investment in the necessary port infrastructure in that region, and we see ports in Europe making progress now to meet this timeline.
Julie Green is Deputy Director General for CLIA in Europe. Julie joined CLIA in Europe in January 2020 as Vice President of Strategic Communications.
Previously, Julie worked in a series of international roles in corporate PR and public policy, including heading up global communications for the infrastructure business at engineering firm Bechtel.
During her time at Bechtel, she ran strategic communications and thought leadership programmes across multiple markets, including central and eastern Europe, and the Middle East.
Julie has also served in the European Commission Directorate-General for Communication.
DESFA, established in 2007, owns, operates and develops the Greek national natural gas system, which is comprised of the country’s natural gas transmission system, the LNG Terminal in Revithoussa, and a 20% participation in the newly established FRSU of Alexandroupolis. Paving the way for a more sustainable future, we have embraced the energy transition as the main pillar of our long-term strategy, aiming to halve GHG emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
In the short term, and in parallel with the efforts for the development of new decarbonized gases and carbon capture technologies, we are enabling the energy transition in two main ways. First, we are facilitating the transmission of natural gas to regions in Europe, through strengthening interconnections in the wider area, where it can serve as a replacement for lignite. This is especially important in the Balkans, where lignite remains a major energy source. At the same time, we are also exploring plans for the introduction of renewables gases, which will complement and gradually replace natural gas, thus leading to a substantial reduction of carbon emissions.
The second way is our contribution to the integration of renewables into the energy system. Greece has made significant progress with the penetration of wind and solar power, and some hydrogen, which together can account for up to 60% of total energy production. However, this achievement would not be possible without a robust natural gas system, which plays a crucial role in balancing the intermittent availability of wind and solar energy. This often-underappreciated role of the natural gas infrastructure highlights its essential role as a key partner in the adoption of renewable energy sources. In the longer term, we have several specific transition projects, evolving every day, working towards the faster integration of renewable gases, with a focus on hydrogen and biomethane, as well as promoting cutting edge energy solutions and technologies, such as carbon capture and storage (see right). We are developing fully hydrogen ready infrastructures, including the first hydrogen ready pipeline in Greece, spanning through Central and West Macedonia.
As part of this, we are collaborating with our counterparts from other countries in the promotion of a Southeast Europe Hydrogen Corridor (SEEHyC). Greece has a good potential for green hydrogen production, as it is expected to have renewable energy potential well in excess toward the domestic electricity demand. Such renewable energy can be efficiently transformed into hydrogen, which can be stored, used in industry and in dispatchable power and exported to countries where higher demand is planned, such as Germany. Going forward, sometime from 2030 onwards, we expect to progressively develop a comprehensive parallel transmission system for hydrogen. We are also engaged in developing a ground-breaking new carbon capture sequestration infrastructure system in Greece, known as the APOLLOCO₂ project (see right).
This project plans to develop a grid that connects the CO₂ generated by Greece’s large-scale emitters, such as the cement and refinery industries, through a pipeline network to a central onshore and offshore liquefaction and export terminal. Once the liquefaction terminal is developed, the liquified CO₂ will be loaded on ships for transport to regions of Greece, using the country’s depleted oil fields as storage sites, and in the future, to Italy and other Southeast European countries. In this respect, we are also strengthening our relationship with Egypt, which has a large potential to convert its own depleted oil fields for the storage of carbon capture. In short, we are well-equipped to support the energy transition with infrastructure that can safely transport energy molecules. Our extensive experience has provided us with a comprehensive understanding of energy networks, coupled with deep technical and business expertise. We are committed to leveraging this knowledge to effectively manage and operate Greece’s future hydrogen network. RINA has been a longstanding and trusted partner for every TSO, and a key partner for DESFA too. We highly value their engineering expertise in energy infrastructure development, as well as their ongoing investment in knowledge, which keeps them ahead of industry trends and empowers them to deliver innovative solutions. In short, RINA has the proven capability to transform ideas into reality.
Maria Rita Galli is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DESFA, the Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator, overseeing the operation, development, and strategic direction of the company. She is an accomplished executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in the global energy sector.
Prior to her role at DESFA, Maria Rita was the Vice President of Business Development & Portfolio Management at Snam, a global leader in energy infrastructure, where she led international expansion initiatives and chaired the SENFLUGA Energy Holdings consortium, which controlled 66% of DESFA’s share capital.
Her career began at Eni in 1997, where she held various roles, including Head of International Business Development and Board Member, contributing to the company’s strategic investments, mergers, and acquisitions in global energy markets. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated expertise in business development, portfolio management, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance, with a strong focus on driving growth and innovation in the energy industry.
Maria Rita holds a Master’s Degree in Nuclear Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Milan. In 2022, she received the “Cavaliere dell’ Ordine della Stella d’Italia”, granted by the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, a prestigious civil honor to personalities, who have distinguished themselves in promoting relations of friendship and collaboration between Italy and other countries, particularly in the social sphere.
The outlook for the energy sector regarding decarbonization and the adoption of new energy sources is both exciting and challenging.
The expansion of the sustainable energy system is a high priority given the urgent need for renewable energy supply and investments in new infrastructure makes.
In the long term, the energy sector will be dominated by renewable electricity, complemented by hydrogen and bio-based fuels for industrial processes and applications where electrification cannot replace fossil-based fuels. In the short term, the energy sector will continue to rely on a mix of renewables and traditional energy sources as a bridge to a sustainable future. The current transition phase is crucial for building the necessary infrastructure for renewables.
There will be a significant push for investments in renewable energy projects, such as solar, wind, and renewable hydrogen, to accelerate this transition.
However, there is a risk that short-term solutions may stimulate investments that create unwanted lock-in effects around fossil-based fuel sources, negatively impacting the climate and environment.
Governments, therefore, play a key role in setting clear policies and deadlines for the implementation of temporary solutions. Policymakers need to ensure that these temporary solutions are phased out over time, with a reliable but finite period for earning an adequate return on investments.
Additionally, regulators should closely collaborate with the scientific community to deeply understand any negative side effects of temporary solutions.
A recent study published by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) reported the high climate risks associated with producing hydrogen from natural gas with carbon capture (CCS).
This important example shows that careful consideration and a strict regulatory framework will be necessary when evaluating temporary solutions as a bridge to a sustainable system. Environmental groups in South Korea are already going to court over these low-carbon hydrogen solutions, which exhibit significant negative carbon emission side effects.
In short, intermediate solutions need more study and public scrutiny. At the same time, we can already see that the cost of renewable hydrogen is becoming competitive with low-carbon alternatives.
Therefore, accelerating investments in renewable energy infrastructure at the gigawatt scale is key for the rapid implementation of sustainable climate solutions. In terms of the most ‘crucial’ sectors in the energy transition, this depends on how you define crucial.
If we consider global CO₂ contributions, we need to address emissions from the steel sector, heavy-duty transport like shipping and aviation, and the built environment. In terms of solutions, the renewable energy sector must expand significantly by constructing large-scale wind and solar farms while reducing technology costs through scaling up, research, and innovation.
Learn more about Green Energy Park
Bart Biebuyck is CEO and founding member of the Green Energy Park (GEP). GEP’s objective is to design, build, and operate hydrogen production infrastructure with ammonia and methanol as the long-distance renewable energy carriers of choice.
Bart graduated in Automotive Engineering Technology from the Netherland’s HAN University of Applied Sciences, and subsequently joined Toyota Motor Europe in Brussels, eventually becoming Technical Senior Manager in the company’s Fuel Cell department.
In 2016, Bart was appointed Executive director of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (now called the Clean Hydrogen Partnership), a public-private partnership between the European Commission, industry and the research community.
During his seven-year term, the Partnership oversaw the European Hydrogen Valleys Partnership involving around 40 European regions, and the introduction of the European Hydrogen Bank. Bart also successfully negotiated the €2.0 billion European “Clean Hydrogen Partnership” which was launched by the President of the European Commission in November 2021.
At European Energy, our focus is on driving the transition to a fully renewable energy system. We are working across a broad portfolio of projects including large-scale solar farms, onshore and offshore wind, and Power-to-X facilities for hydrogen and e-methanol production.
Offshore wind, the company’s first activity, which dates back to 2004 with our projects in Germany, remains a core technology. We are expanding our footprint in this sector by investing in new projects, particularly in northern Europe.
We have developed extensive partnerships with industry leaders in this area, and we are looking forward to expanding our presence in this area.
Meanwhile, one of our landmark projects is developing industrial-scale e-fuel facilities, where we will use renewable electricity to produce sustainable fuels. We are also committed to developing new energy storage solutions that can mitigate support grid stability as well as produce electricity when it is needed by the consumers.
In the short term, we are seeing a rapid acceleration in renewable energy adoption, driven by both policy and market demand. We see that (falling) costs for deploying wind and solar energy are leading this acceleration. However, challenges such as built out of the grid and grid balancing still require solutions. We have therefore started to focus on battery solutions to address this.
Hydrogen has a crucial role to play in decarbonizing sectors where direct electrification is not feasible, such as heavy industry, shipping, and aviation. At European Energy, we are investing heavily in green hydrogen production through electrolysis powered by our renewable energy assets. We see hydrogen derivatives, such as e-methanol, as key to creating sustainable fuels for hard-to-decarbonize sectors.
The next decade will be pivotal as hydrogen production scales and becomes more cost-competitive, positioning it as a critical energy carrier in the global economy.
However, to maintain competitiveness, the production of energy carriers like hydrogen must benefit from continued innovation and scale. In our company, we are constantly working on improving the efficiency of renewable energy production and driving down costs through economies of scale. Carbon pricing mechanisms, corporate demand for green energy as well as governmental regulation will all be essential in creating a market that allows renewable-based carriers to compete effectively with traditional fossil fuels.
Knud Erik Andersen is the co-founder of European Energy, a leading Danish renewables firm that builds wind and solar farms across the world. He started his entrepreneurial career while still at university, constructing and assembling a wind turbine in the early 80s.
Later he founded a company focused on software development for controlling wind turbines.
This company later expanded to make control software for not only wind turbines but also other electronic appliances and machinery.
After selling the company, he then proceeded to move into renewable energy development himself, founding European Energy in 2004 together with Michael D. Pedersen.
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