Captureste: Italy's first industrial CO2 capture initiative in the waste to energy sector
Captureste represents one of the main internal levers outlined by the Hera Group's Climate Transition Plan aimed at reducing internal emissions, with the objective of reaching Net Zero by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement. Click HERE and find out more about Hera Group's Net Zero strategy.
Captureste is the first industrial CO2 capture (CCS) project in Italy and among the first in Europe designed to be applied to waste to energy plants. As far as waste to energy plants are concerned, the Hera Group's Net Zero strategy foresees the gradual adoption of CCS systems on several plants, with the aim of reducing emissions by 90% by 2050.
The project is, to all intents and purposes, a strategic step in the application of CCS technologies in the waste to energy sector. It will be implemented at the Herambiente’s Ferrara plant, chosen for its proximity to both the renewable geothermal source of the multi utility's district heating system which will provide the thermal energy needed for capture , and the geological storage site in Ravenna, where the CO2 will be safely transported and stored. The project uses an innovative enzymatic technology developed by Saipem, which guarantees an efficient, stable and environmentally friendly process.
The project has been supported by the European Innovation Fund because of its high level of innovativeness, its potential replicability on other waste to energy plants and in other hard to abate sectors in Italy and, more generally, in Europe , confirming its strategic value for industrial decarbonisation. In addition to representing a model for the Group's other plants, Captureste therefore contributes to the creation of a national supply chain for CO2 capture and storage, strengthening the resilience of the Italian energy and environmental system.
Reduction of CO2 emissions from the Ferrara waste-to-energy plant
The Captureste project envisages the installation of a CO₂ capture plant at the Ferrara waste-to-energy plant, chosen as the ideal site for the first industrial application.
Based on the Bluenzyme™ technology developed by Saipem, the system uses a stable, non-toxic enzymatic solvent that can be activated at low temperature, enabling efficient and environmentally friendly capture.
The plant will treat the entire emission from one of the two lines, capturing approximately 64,000 tonnes of fossil CO₂ per year with 90% efficiency, making the entire energy pro- duction climate neutral. The captured CO₂ will then be transported via dedicated pipelines and permanently and safely stored in depleted gas fields in the Upper Adriatic.
Discover the innovative technology of the Captureste project
The Captureste project stands out as a model of integrated decarbonisation thanks to the synergy between the Herambiente waste-to-energy plant in Ferrara, the geothermal city power plant operated by the Hera Group and the Bluenzyme™ capture technology developed by Saipem.
This technology allows the use of low-temperature heat (85-90°C) for the regeneration of the CO2 capture solvent. These temperatures are compatible with those of the heat supplied to the Hera Group's district heating network, which is fed by the geothermal power plant located within the same site.
This integration allows the usage of a renewable and local source for the capture process, avoiding fossil fuel boilers and further reducing the plant's environmental footprint.
This makes carbon neutral both the production of electricity from waste and the supply of heat to the district heating network, which in winter exploits the heat from the waste-to-energy plant, contributing to the sustainability of the urban energy system and to the local decarbonisation goals.
ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AT EUROPEAN LEVEL
The Captureste project has received major funding from the European Commission's Innovation Fund, dedicated to innovative technologies for decarbonisation.
Selected in the 2023 call for medium scale projects, it stood out in the CCS category for its high technical maturity, expected environmental impact and economic and financial soundness.
The project involves a total investment of around EUR 53 million, of which EUR 23 million will be covered by the European contribution.
This support is crucial to accelerate progress of the project and confirms Captureste as a strategic and pioneering initiative for the decarbonisation of the waste to energy sector in Italy and Europe.
The STEP Seal
The Captureste project has received the STEP Seal from the European Commission. This award certifies the quality and strategic importance of the initiative in the field of clean technologies and decarbonisation.
The aim is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and contribute to the European environmental sustainability goals.
The project was selected among the first 130 at European level to receive the Seal, awarded to initiatives that meet high standards of quality and innovation.
The STEP Seal gives projects greater visibility and supports them in attracting financial resources from other EU programmes through combined or cumulative funding.
Captureste is a concrete example of Italy's commitment to the transition to a low-carbon future, helping to strengthen the EU's technological competitiveness.
Learn more about the STEP Seal
We achieved an high score in the European Innovation Fund call: this confirms the highly innovative nature of this initiative. Is a very significant achievement, which sees us as pioneers in Italy with this industrial-scale CO₂ capture solution, applied to waste-to-energy plants. As leaders in the environmental sector, we are chartingthe way for innovation in this field, leveraging investments and expertise.
Stay updated on the project
The Hera Group's Captureste project represents an important strategic lever outlined in the multi-utility’s Climate Transition Plan to reach the Net Zero target for 2050. Follow all the steps and stay updated on the project, subscribe to the official newsletter
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