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MI 4MW PEM Electrolyser Boosts Green Hydrogen Production at API SARPOM Refinery

IMI is supplying a 4 MW PEM electrolyser to the SARPOM Refinery in Trecate, Novara, Italy operated by IP Gruppo API.

The investment forms part of API’s ‘Impianto di Produzione Idrogeno Verde’ (Green Hydrogen Production Plant) project. Funded by the Piedmont Region through the Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), this initiative aims to produce green hydrogen using energy generated by two photovoltaic fields located within the refinery. These fields will deliver an estimated annual production of more than 8,500 MWh of renewable energy.

Hydrogen will be produced by a 4 MW PEM electrolyser designed and built by IMI, which will be installed in a decommissioned area of the refinery previously used for hydrocarbon storage. This area will be revitalised, aligning with the regional funding guidelines. The estimated annual production is at least 167 metric tons of renewable hydrogen, which will replace a portion of the non-renewable hydrogen currently used in refining processes.

Factory testing was completed in December 2024, and the final assembly of the electrolyser is already underway, with delivery and commissioning planned for the first half of 2025.

Giuseppe Buscemi, EMEA President of Process Automation at IMI, said:

This project showcases the power and versatility of our PEM electrolysers.

“We are pushing decarbonisation forward within heavy industry, and our work with API sets a great precedent as one of Italy’s first 4 MW PEM hydrogen electrolysers.”

One of the IMI VIVO electrolyser’s key strengths is its electrical connection system. Use of Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors’ (IGBT) high-frequency switching technology improves the quality of energy supplied to the electrolyser while also offering greater modularity, making the system more flexible.

Each skid-mounted module from IMI incorporates a complete system for water treatment, purification, and cooling, designed with robust safeguards at every stage. Advanced calculation techniques, such as finite element analysis (FEA), evaluate the impact of overpressure on oxygen vessels, while fluid dynamics simulations continuously monitor hydrogen leaks to ensure the efficiency of venting fans. Additionally, a detailed hazard and risk analysis (HAZOP) is conducted, informed by IMI’s experience in the oil & gas sector to ensure reliability and operational security.

IMI 4MW PEM Electrolyser Boosts Green Hydrogen Production at API SARPOM Refinery - Hydrogen Central

Supported by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) through the Sicilian Region, this initiative represents one of the key projects of European relevance in the energy transition and the development of Italy’s hydrogen value chain.

The electrolyser, supplied by Ansaldo Green Tech, employs anion exchange membrane (AEM) technology, offering high efficiency and operational flexibility. Developed within the framework of the IPCEI project and funded by the European Union’s ‘NextGenerationEU’ programme, the system will be assembled on a new production line currently under construction in Genova Campi, Italy. It will be capable of producing over 500 kg/d of green hydrogen, with optimised energy consumption and a purity level of 99.9%.

The Giammoro Hydrogen Valley project includes the installation of a 4 MW photovoltaic system to power the electrolyser, enabling the production of around 100 tpy of green hydrogen. The hydrogen produced will primarily support the decarbonisation of key industrial sectors, including steel, logistics, and mobility.

With a total investment of €10 million, the Hydrogen Valley project represents a sustainable development model for southern Italy. It is expected to significantly boost the local economy by creating new job opportunities and promoting the growth of industries related to the production and distribution of green hydrogen.

“The Hydrogen Valley in Sicily represents a concrete step toward the energy transition and the strengthening of the island’s energy independence,” said Massimo Croci, CEO of Duferco Energia. “This initiative will not only generate environmental benefits but also provide new economic and employment opportunities for the region. Environmental sustainability can go hand in hand with industrial and social development.”

“We are proud to contribute to the Giammoro-Messina Hydrogen Valley project led by Duferco Energia,” added Vittorio Olcese, CEO of Ansaldo Green Tech. “This agreement is a strong endorsement of Ansaldo Green Tech’s technology, focused on efficiency and flexibility in the production of green hydrogen to decarbonise sectors such as mobility, logistics, and hard-to-abate industries like steel.”

The initiative is aligned with the European decarbonisation strategies outlined in the RePowerEU plan, which aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and accelerate the adoption of renewable energy. The Giammoro Hydrogen Valley will therefore contribute not only to local environmental sustainability but also to the EU’s climate neutrality goals.

Duferco Energia and Ansaldo Green Tech sign agreement for green hydrogen production | Global Hydrogen Review