Proven expertise in hydrogen-based solutions for sustainable growth

RINA has already successfully supported numerous clients through the technical and economic challenges associated with hydrogen deployment.

Leveraging our deep expertise and comprehensive know-how, we provide end-to-end support to all stakeholders all along the value chain, from renewable energy sources and hydrogen production to transport storage and use.  

Development of a green hydrogen value chain in south Europe 

H2CRETE Valley is a pioneering large-scale 100 MW green hydrogen (H2) and ammonia (NH3) production project in Atherinolakos, Crete, Greece. The project comprises a sea water desalination system, a 100 MW electrolysis production unit, an ammonia production unit, storage facilities and ancillary equipment. The ammonia produced by H2CRETE will serve various off-takers such as import terminals, mobility, and maritime, and cement industry. We provided the client with a multidisciplinary team composed of process, civil, electrical, chemical, health, safety & environment, floater, and pipeline engineers, as well as economists, marketers, and project management experts. Our services include business planning, financial modelling, technical feasibility studies, technology scouting and selection, concept design, and green funding scouting and application.

Certification of Italian (Snam) natural gas existing network (32,500 km approx) to transport up to 100% of hydrogen 

We certified Snam's 32,500 km natural gas network in Italy for the transport of up to 100% hydrogen.

We designed the assessment methodology, based on technical requirements of international codes and standard and leveraging our experience in materials and laboratory testing. We conducted a detailed verification of materials and components compatibility and issued the final Statement of H2 suitability of the network. 

Certification of the Saipem methodology of qualification of the performances of subsea hydrogen pipelines 

We assessed the Saipem protocol to evaluate the performance of the metallic materials and the relative welds for the passage of hydrogen and released the Approval in Principle (AiP) and the Technology Qualification certifications. These statements ascertain the compatibility of the methodology and materials used in the construction of subsea pipelines for the transportation of gaseous hydrogen, building trust and confidence in the client’s ability to execute H2 pipeline projects. 

Repurposing of existing combustion systems for the use of natural gas/hydrogen mixtures

Together with SNAM and GIVA Group, we performed the world’s first test of a 30% natural gas/hydrogen blend in the forging processes used in industrial steelmaking at the Forgiatura A. Vienna plant in Italy. The trial followed a series of engineering analyses and laboratory tests and demonstrated the possibility of using a hydrogen and natural gas blend without any plant modifications. This had no impact on the equipment used or the characteristics of the final heat-treated product, leading to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions by approximately 15,000 tonnes per year, equivalent to 7,500 cars, and reduced costs. 

Steel Industry HYDRA Project

The HYDRA Project is a global platform that brings together key players from the hydrogen (H2) value chain and the steel industry. This includes renewable energy producers, public services, infrastructure owners, research centers, steel producers, plant builders, universities, and associations. The project aims to assess both the integral cycle (Blast Furnace, BF) to reduce fossil fuel consumption by replacing it with hydrogen, and the electric cycle (Electric Arc Furnace, EAF) and direct reduction processes.

Hydrogen solutions for transport and mobility

In the H2iseo Hydrogen Valley, an Italian hydrogen-based industrial value chain for sustainable railway mobility, we worked on an extensive package of services to advance the second project in Europe of hydrogen-fueled trains. The package included the design of the entire value chain, from hydrogen production to storage and distribution (permitting, plant engineering, geotech, HSE, etc.), project management of the whole project, project verification and validation, independent safety assessment (ISA) of the traction and storage system onboard the trains, and funding support.

We also assisted clients in developing the basic design of green hydrogen production and permitting for the introduction of a hydrogen-fueled bus fleet in cities.

We worked on the decarbonization of airports, such as Malpensa Airport in Milan, Italy, by designing the green hydrogen hub starting from the airport's energy and hydrogen needs and encompassing a renewable energy plant, electrolysis system, hydrogen storage, and compression/dispenser unit for airport vehicles. For low-carbon airport connections with cities and surrounding areas, we oversaw transport demand analysis and forecasting, the dimensioning of the bus fleet and charging stations, and bus fleet management.

Gulf-to-Europe Hydrogen Pipeline 

The concept of a hydrogen pipeline connecting Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and traversing the Mediterranean Sea to Europe may seem ambitious, but our initial assessments indicate its feasibility. We provided the client with an analysis shows that a suitable pipeline configuration could transport 100 TWh or approximately 2.5 million tonnes of hydrogen annually.