Italy Debuts First Industrial-Scale Carbon Capture Initiative with Eni and Snam Partnership

In a significant advancement for Italy’s climate strategy, Eni and Snam have inaugurated the Ravenna CCS project, Italy’s inaugural venture into industrial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS). This initiative emerges as a fundamental component of the European Union’s commitment to bolster CO₂ storage capabilities by 2030, in line with broader efforts to mitigate climate impact.

Located at Eni’s natural gas treatment facility in Casalborsetti, Ravenna, the project’s first phase is designed to capture approximately 25,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Utilizing revamped pipelines, the captured CO₂ is transported to the Porto Corsini Mare Ovest platform and securely stored deep beneath the ocean floor at depths of 3,000 meters within a depleted gas field.

Demonstrating an impressive capture efficiency rate exceeding 90%, with peaks at 96%, Ravenna CCS sets a new precedent in carbon capture technology, especially notable given the challenging low carbon concentrations and atmospheric pressure conditions. Remarkably, the entire operation is powered by renewable energy, ensuring that the project itself maintains a minimal carbon footprint.

Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Eni, highlighted the strategic use of existing infrastructures: “By repurposing our depleted fields and leveraging established infrastructure, we are providing a robust, viable solution for significantly reducing emissions from hard-to-abate industries.”

The project is set to expand under its second phase, aiming by 2030 to enhance its capacity to sequester up to 4 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. This expansion is pivotal to aligning with Italy’s Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) and is contingent upon securing the necessary governmental and regulatory consents.

Stefano Venier, CEO of Snam, reflected on the broader implications of the project: “The Ravenna CCS project underscores our strategic transition towards a more integrated energy solution provider, capable of facilitating a balanced transition to a low-carbon economy. This initiative, coupled with similar projects across Europe, will forge synergies essential for the success of global decarbonization efforts.”