The production of energy from renewable sources

In line with the Snam’s commitment to reduce the energy consumption relating to its activities, in 2019 the Company committed to improving the energy efficiency of its buildings (territorial headquarters and maintenance centres) and its gas storage facilities, through the installation of solar panels. In 2019 the total number of plants reached 1,794 units (+17% compared to 2018) and the installed power increased by 75 kW compared to 2018, passing from 1,054 kW to 1,129 kW (+7%).

This increase mainly involves the installation of 258 new back-up systems and a new photovoltaic system connected to the electricity grid.

In 2017 specific KPIs and a quantitative target for energy efficiency, to be reached by 2022, were set. The results achieved during the year were in line with the expected trend with the exception of the target for the electricity production from photovoltaic plants, which went from around 1,128,400 kWh in 2018 to around 830,000 kWh in 2019. This reduction was caused by the non-availability of several systems adversely affecting the forecasted annual production.

Tep Energy Solution

In May 2018 Snam acquired a controlling share, equal to 82% of the share capital, of TEP Energy Solution (TEP), one of the main Italian companies operating in the energy efficiency sector.

TEP is an ESCo (Energy Service Company), accredited at Gestore dei Sistemi Energetici S.p.A. (GSE), which is mainly involved with energy requalification and deep renovation operations for apartment buildings and industrial sites for civil and service sector.

TEP also provides advisory services to support energy-intensive businesses and large companies to identify the actions necessary for the reduction of the energy consumption and the environmental impact in relation to their corporate processes (carbon footprint and LCA, energy diagnoses, energy management systems compliant with ISO 50001:2018).

In 2019, TEP market activities concentrated on various lines of intervention, integrating energy efficiency solutions in domestic, tertiary and industrial sectors.

Apartment blocks – integrated solution called “CasaMia”

The company offers energy diagnostic services for the design and realisation of interventions with innovative solutions (modernisation of thermal power stations, construction of thermal walls, improvement of seismic class, etc.) that make it possible to guarantee the heating and climate control requirements and needs are met at the same time reducing consumption and CO₂ emissions. In 2019 29 interventions were carried out which led to a reduction in CO₂ emissions of around 765 tonnes/year.

“Mosaico Verde” (Green Patchwork) Campaign

The company joined the national reforestation campaign promoted by Legambiente and AzzeroCO₂. Under the scope of this initiative, in 2019 TEP created the first urban wood in Padua by planting 1,000 new native trees (linden, oak, field maple and Guelder-rose) in an urban area that was previously grassland.

The goal is to create a green lung to curb atmospheric and acoustic pollution, absorb CO₂ emissions (by around 20 tonnes per year) and improve the quality of life of the area, with a recreational area for residents and children in the nearby schools.

Industrial and tertiary sector – ESCO energy efficiency interventions

The Company carries out operations that involve the adoption of efficient technologies for reducing the environmental impact of production activities and processes, with the guarantee of achieving the savings estimated in the design stage. The interventions mainly relate to the utilities (thermal power stations, lighting, cogeneration, purification, environmental climate control) with savings main in thermal energy. In 2019, 3 new plants were built which, together with the 5 plants constructed previously and managed by TEP, has led to an overall reduction of CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere of around 1,050 tonnes/year.

Energy Efficiency Certificates TEE (so-called White Certificates)

TEEs are incentives recognised by the GSE for energy efficiency actions where the savings actually achieved can be measured and reported. TEP supports customers, mainly in the industrial sector, with the management of projects for recognising these certificates and for the subsequent calculation of savings to report to the GSE. In 2019 59,612 TEEs were produced. The TEEs produced in the year, counting the production activities and processes of end users, certify a reduction in CO₂ emissions of around 134,000 tonnes (83,000 for the reduction of thermal consumption and 51,000 for the reduction of electricity consumption) counted for the production activities and processes of end users.