Power-to-gas
Serving renewables
Power-to-gas (P2G) transforms surplus electricity into green molecules that can be transported over long distances at low cost with less and less leakage. At the same time, it offers the option of seasonal storage for renewable energy, to be used at times when demand is highest.
MicroPyros BioEnerTec, a biotechnology company of the Pietro Fiorentini Group, is one of only three companies in the world capable of applying organic methanisation to industrial processes.
Using the wastewater present as nutrients for microorganisms, it captures the carbon dioxide released in the methanisation phase. It is one of the most promising sources related to the conversion of energy into gas (Power-to-gas).
Cases of successful projects
Pietro Fiorentini’s commitment to the development of power-to-gas solutions is reflected in cutting-edge projects in Italy and Europe, leading the company to establish itself as a reliable technology partner in the field of energy transition.
Power-to-gas technology exploits the phenomenon of electrolysis: excess renewable electric energy from wind farms, photovoltaic fields and electrical infrastructure congestion is used to break the bonds of the water molecules and produce hydrogen, which can be upgraded on site or transported to other places.
80 years of experience in processing natural gas combined with our commitment to the process of decarbonisation has driven us to develop complete solutions ranging from power-to-methane, to convert electricity into green gas compatible with the relevant infrastructure, to biological methanation plants.
Expertise areas
Biomethane
Unlike other renewables, biomethane requires limited investment in terms of infrastructure. Moreover, regarding emissions, it is considered to be neutral as it is produced via the digestion of biomass from by-products, industrial processing waste and organic material.
Specific incentives promoted at the European level are making its use economically sustainable, and as a result production and use of this source are being strongly encouraged.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen combustion does not release carbon dioxide, but rather steam, and it is easier to transport and store than electricity. This makes hydrogen the ideal ally for renewable energy production.
Today, hydrogen can only be injected into the pipeline network and blended with natural gas up to certain percentages: we are commited to creating systems and devices that can overcome this limit.
Water
Water is a primary resource, a basic necessity for life, and as such requires proper management from all points of view: institutional, environmental and economic.
The sector’s current objective is to automate the process through the digitalisation of water networks, thereby optimising resources and data management to optimise management and minimise the loss of unaccounted-for water, whether through leaks or fraud.
E-fuels
Methanation process has many advantages, including the possibility of storing electricity in the form of renewable methane in gas infrastructures, capturing carbon dioxide for later use, and replacing a fossil source as it can be directly used in heating or vehicles as a drop-in replacement fuel.
Pietro Fiorentini’s technological solution relies on a biological methanation process to generate renewable methane. The biology for this process is developed by MicroPyros BioEnerTec GmbH™, part of Pietro Fiorentini Group.
Gas smart grids
Smart Grids, which integrate different types of energy and make autonomous decisions to optimise energy distribution, are an ambitious project that will, in the very near future, manage energy through networks capable of instantaneously regulating multiple, discontinuous and bidirectional flows.
Cathodic protection
When iron and steel come into contact with an electrolyte, such as soil, a phenomenon called electrolytic corrosion occurs in any infrastructure made of metal.
Electrolytic corrosion cannot be completely eliminated, but specific measures can be taken in the design and construction phases to significantly reduce its effects.
