Case study

Hera Comm supports local authorities, condominiums and businesses in developing energy-sharing projects.

In 2025, support was provided to three municipalities in the Rimini area to secure PNRR grants for the creation of a renewable energy community powered by a 15 kW photovoltaic system, and a system of approximately 1 MW is currently being installed at the Tavullia (PU) landfill site, also serving a renewable energy community.

In the context of collective self-consumption in condominiums, six groups had been established by 2025, four of which are operational with four systems having a total capacity of approximately 100 kW (involving around 60 households).

Finally, in the context of individual remote self-consumption, a 1 MW system has been installed at a food company production plant in the Cesena area.

In the municipality of Faenza, an Energy Park is planned, covering a total area of approximately 70 hectares. The project includes the construction of an advanced agrivoltaic system for the production of renewable energy, as well as the development of ecological features for biodiversity known as an Urban Forest.

The total capacity of the agrivoltaic system will be approximately 14 MW, with an estimated annual electricity production of around 21 GWh. The system will occupy an area of about 27 hectares, divided into four sub-fields, and will consist of support structures positioned at a height of three meters above the ground, allowing the passage of agricultural machinery used for cultivation. The agrivoltaic system is expected to avoid the emission of approximately 9.7 thousand tonnes of CO₂ per year.

The Urban Forest will cover a total area of approximately 15 hectares and will help increase plant and animal biodiversity and provide ecosystem services to citizens. For this reason, it will be located closer to the city and will consist of a mix of dense tree patches, shrub belts, clearings, and rows of trees. In particular, the Urban Forest will include:

• traditional forest planting over approximately 5.3 hectares, with the planting of a total of 1,500 trees;
• planting using the Miyawaki method over approximately 1.5 hectares: this is a specific reforestation technique designed to accelerate the growth of native forests in urban and peri-urban environments. The main features of this methodology include the diversity of native plant species to recreate the complexity and resilience of natural ecosystems, and a high density of tree and shrub species (26,000 plants) to promote competition, rapid growth, and the development of a self-sustaining ecosystem;
• areas for public use: four hectares of the Urban Forest will be accessible to people. These areas will have more open spaces and include gravel and dirt paths to promote soft mobility, such as walking and cycling;
• tree rows and isolated trees: the rural landscape of the foothills is characterized by isolated trees that act as landmarks, vegetation strips along ditches, and rows that provide shade along paths. The project will preserve existing specimens and reinforce these landscape elements with 2,500 plants across an area of over three hectares.

To ensure the growth and protection of biodiversity in the area, a monitoring plan has been developed by the University of Bologna (Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences) which will allow the measurement and quantification of biodiversity improvements over time compared to the current agricultural context.

The initiative has been admitted to the investment support measures provided by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) for agrivoltaic systems. Construction works began in late August 2025, with completion of the plant expected by June 2026, while external works and final interventions related to the Urban Forest are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

The Energy Park planned in the municipality of Bologna, in the northern part of the city, will cover a total area of approximately 89 hectares. Of these, 68 hectares will be cultivable, with about 28 hectares dedicated to the installation of an advanced agrivoltaic system for the production of renewable electricity. The height and positioning of the photovoltaic panels will allow both energy production and the continuation of normal agricultural activities.

The agrivoltaic system will have a peak capacity of 14 MW and an annual energy production of 20 GWh, with a direct connection model to a final energy user; this model is referred to as a “simple production and consumption system.” The agrivoltaic system is expected to avoid greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 9.2 thousand tonnes of CO₂ per year.

The area designated for biodiversity protection, the Urban Forest, will cover approximately 21.5 hectares in a peri-urban area south of the agrivoltaic installation site and will be divided as follows:

• urban park with groves and clearings: an area accessible to the public covering approximately two hectares, with over 150 trees;
• low-density biodiversity area: accessible to the public, covering nine hectares with about one thousand shrubs and grassland;
• high-density biodiversity area: consisting of three zones for a total of 9.5 hectares. As it will not be open to the public, it will be a dense forest composed of species planted without a fixed layout or planting scheme, with a total of approximately 2,500 plants;
• Miyawaki biodiversity forest covering approximately one hectare, not accessible to the public.

To ensure the growth and protection of biodiversity in the Urban Forest area, a monitoring plan will be implemented to measure and quantify improvements compared to the current context.

The authorization process for the project is expected to be completed by the first half of 2027; construction activities will then begin, with completion of the initiative expected by the first half of 2028.

The partnership between GranTerre – one of the leading players in the Italian food industry and a leader in the production of cured meats and mature cheeses – and CPL Concordia – a company specialising in the design, construction and management of energy systems – is progressing successfully. The agreement, launched in 2023 with the aim of introducing energy efficiency measures and decarbonising the GranTerre’s energy consumption, is one of the most significant in Italy’s food sector, not least due to the number of plants involved.

The plan aims to enable the company to self-generate increasingly significant amounts of energy through plants powered by renewable sources or high-efficiency conversion systems. It has recently seen the launch of three new plants – two photovoltaic and one cogeneration plant – which join the four cogeneration plants, seven photovoltaic and one geothermal plant already in operation, thus enabling GranTerre to achieve a self-generation level of 40% of the plants’ total energy requirements. 

This marks a significant milestone that combines environmental benefits, sustainability and energy efficiency as part of a broader initiative, made possible through collaboration with Hera Servizi Energia (HSE) and CPL Concordia. HSE, a leading provider of energy efficiency services for industrial clients, public authorities and condominiums, possesses the expertise and assets required not only to identify potential efficiency improvements but also to design and implement the most appropriate technological solutions. These capabilities, combined with those of CPL Concordia, another major player in the industrial energy sector, have thus given rise to an innovative partnership for regional sustainability.

In 2024, the Hera Group set out a roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with scientific recommendations to limit global warming to 1.5°C by the end of the century. This goal will be pursued through an overall reduction in emissions of around 90% (compared to 2019) and the removal of all residual emissions by the end of the decarbonisation process.

The measures identified to reduce the Group’s own emissions and those of its customers include: energy efficiency; maintaining full coverage of internal electricity consumption with certified renewable energy; the production of renewable energy; carbon capture and storage at various waste-to-energy plants; the gradual electrification of the customer base, resulting in the supply of energy from renewable sources; the provision of solutions for energy saving and self-generation of photovoltaic energy.

Achieving this target will result in a reduction in Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions for each energy customer from 3.3 tonnes in 2019 to less than 0.2 tonnes by 2050.

Aliplast manages the integrated plastics cycle, transforming waste into finished products made from recycled plastic, which have the same characteristics as virgin plastic. Regarding the products sold in 2025, these consist mainly of PE products and polymers (38%), PET products and polymers (54%) and granules/flakes of other polymers (8%). Its main commitment is to make the plastic life cycle sustainable, by collecting and recycling it to produce new materials, with the lowest possible environmental impact. Through constant research and development and continuous technological innovation (in products, services and processes), Aliplast oversees a traceable plastics supply chain, capable of transforming a fragmented chain into a virtuous cycle and ensuring a final product that is high-quality, efficient and more cost-effective than traditional materials. The plants manage waste from both industrial scrap and urban separate collection. This waste is transformed into new products or, to a very small extent, sent to third-party companies specialising in recycling. Aliplast directly recycles most of the incoming waste, whilst only a small percentage is discarded because it consists of non-recyclable polymers or due to weight loss caused by the presence of liquids or impurities. The proportion of waste sent for material recovery is approximately 84%. The secondary raw material obtained from the waste is then sold or used in the manufacture of recycled plastic products. 

In 2025, Aliplast sold 119.1 thousand tonnes of plastic products, an increase of 19% compared to the previous year. The proportion of recycled plastic contained in the products sold has also risen significantly compared to 2024: 97.1 thousand tonnes in 2025 (+63%) compared to 60 thousand tonnes in 2017 (the baseline for the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment). Despite the market environment remaining challenging, under pressure from flows of recycled materials from outside the EU and characterised by a slowdown in demand for plastics due to the cooling of global industrial production, Aliplast has managed to increase its market share.

In 2020, Maire Tecnimont and the Hera Group signed an agreement between Aliplast and NextChem for the development of a plant to produce recycled polymers of high purity and quality, with superior chemical, physical and mechanical properties, with the aim of processing post-consumer plastic waste to produce bespoke recycled products with characteristics similar to those of virgin fossil-based polymers. The plant will meet high safety standards and feature innovative design, whilst also maximising energy efficiency.

The site is located in Modena, near the waste-to-energy plant and the water treatment plant, both managed by the Hera Group, creating a circular economy hub.

During 2025, most of the civil works and plant installation were carried out, with the project due to be completed in 2026 and the plant set to commence operations in the first half of the year.

Aliplast and Sacme have launched a closed-loop project for the large-scale retail sector, promoting sustainability through an agreement that leverages the expertise of both companies. The partnership enables large-scale retail chains to transform LDPE packaging film into bin liners sold as private-label products in the same store. The model is based on Aliplast collecting discarded LDPE film from logistics centres, regenerating it and delivering it to Sacme, which produces bags containing at least 80% recycled material. These products are traceable, ensuring they originate from the waste of the partner large-scale retail chain. The closed-loop system enables customers to make responsible consumption choices, helping to reduce environmental impact: every tonne of bags made from recycled film saves 2,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions compared to virgin products.

FIB3R, inaugurated by the Hera Group in Imola in March 2025, is Europe’s first industrial-scale plant for the regeneration of carbon fibre using a pyrolysis process, with an investment partly funded by the NRRP. 

The plant comprises two parallel production lines, each with a nominal capacity of 160 tonnes per year, totalling 320 tonnes per year, and operates on a continuous cycle. In 2025, 37.3 tonnes of composite waste were processed, producing 17.9 tonnes of recycled carbon fibre, classified as a secondary raw material and ready for commercialisation. The process ensures maximum traceability and promotes a circular economy model, enabling companies to reintegrate the recycled fibre into their production cycles.

The life-cycle analysis, conducted by the University of Bologna, showed that the production of 1 kilogram of recycled fibre requires 95% less energy and reduces CO₂ emissions by 92% compared to virgin fibre; the thermal integration system significantly improves energy efficiency. 

FIB3R has received numerous awards for ecological transition and technological innovation, establishing itself as an international benchmark for industrial sustainability and the reduction of environmental impact.

Since 2018, a service has been in operation aimed at the kerbside collection of used cooking oil from households: launched in Emilia-Romagna but now extended across the entire Group, by 2025 it had resulted in the collection of 1,075 tonnes of oil, which is sent to a biorefinery for the production of biofuel.

In addition to the collection stream from households, from 2021 Hera has implemented a scheme to collect used vegetable oil from commercial premises across the country as well. By 2025, the project had enabled a further 1,534 tonnes of vegetable oil to be sent to biorefineries for the production of biofuel. 

The initiative generates significant environmental benefits during the biofuel production phase, compared to the production of fossil-based fuel: an energy saving of approximately 2,310 toe and 7,400 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions avoided.

To close the loop, in 2025, Hera fuelled part of its company fleet with biofuel, using over 1.2 million litres, replacing fossil fuel.

Hasi’s commercial offering continues to evolve. From the traditional supplier–client relationship for the collection, transport and treatment of industrial waste, through to the Global Waste Management offering—designed to manage all waste across the client’s production facilities and complemented by high-value ancillary services (administrative, consultancy, etc.)—right up to the evolution towards a “from supplier to partner” model. This is an innovative management approach, designed for the country’s major industrial groups, which may culminate in the establishment of a joint venture with the client, capable of guaranteeing Hasi business expansion, customer loyalty, cross-selling and enhanced reputation. 

CircularYard was established in January 2025 as a new company resulting from a partnership between Fincantieri (40%), Hasi (55%) and ACR (5%) for waste management. The new company aims to oversee and improve the entire waste management process across all Fincantieri shipyards. Investments of almost €13 million are planned for the design and construction of new facilities, and the upgrading and optimisation of infrastructure and equipment, with a view to the circular economy. This will lead to a 15% reduction in unsorted waste and, once fully operational, will enable the management of approximately 100,000 tonnes per year of waste produced by Fincantieri’s domestic and overseas production sites. CircularYard’s operational activities were initially launched at the Monfalcone (Go) shipyard, in August they were extended to Fincantieri’s Marghera (Ve) site, and since November the service has continued at the Ancona plant with the aim of expanding the scope of operations to other shipbuilding sites by 2026.

For many years, the Hera Group has been running waste reduction projects in collaboration with local non-profit organisations and with the support of Last Minute Market, a social enterprise and accredited spin-off of the University of Bologna that promotes the fight against waste and environmental sustainability. CiboAmico, FarmacoAmico and Cambia il finale are well-established initiatives that promote good habits regarding reuse and generate positive social impacts through the activities carried out by the non-profit organisations involved, in line with the Hera Group’s principles of social responsibility and environmental protection. 

Launched in 2009, CiboAmico represents a concrete initiative developed by the company to foster the development of the circular economy, bringing together various local organisations in the spirit of shared social responsibility, and providing tangible support to those most in need. The recovered meals are donated to non-profit organisations that provide shelter and daily support to people in need. The project is active in eight company canteens: Bologna, Granarolo dell’Emilia, Rimini, Ferrara, Ravenna, Modena, Forlì and Cesena. Since the project began, a total of almost 168,000 meals have been donated (including around 13,000 in 2025 alone), with a total value of approximately €684,000. This has prevented the generation of almost 74 tonnes of waste (equivalent to over 162 bin lids) and the emission of over 304 tonnes of CO2. Since 2022, CiboAmico has expanded beyond the confines of company canteens to involve businesses and manufacturers in the fight against waste, through the ‘Non si butta via niente’ (Nothing Goes to Waste) project.

FarmacoAmico is a project launched by Hera to collect unexpired medicines and establish a local network for their reuse, with the aim of preventing waste generation by promoting best practices and supporting organisations that assist vulnerable members of the community. Medicines that are intact, with at least six months’ shelf life remaining and in a suitable condition, are thus reused by non-profit organisations involved in local or decentralised cooperation projects. Launched in 2013, FarmacoAmico now involves 63 municipalities in the Emilia-Romagna region, 267 pharmacies and 36 non-profit organisations, some of which operate in Italy and others abroad, as well as various partners, institutions, trade associations and businesses. Since the project began, around 700,000 packs of medicines have been collected and sent for reuse (of which more than 90,000 in 2025 alone), with a total economic value of over €8.6 million, which potentially corresponds in part to a cost saving for the National Health Service. During 2025, there was an increase in both the weight and economic value of medicines sent for reuse (+20%). This increase is due to a rise in both the number of pharmacies participating in the project (from 214 to 267, a +24.8% increase) and the number of participating local authorities (from 38 to 63).

‘Cambia il finale’ is a project now in its twelfth year, which collects all items in good condition that would otherwise be destined for disposal, enabling their reuse. This is achieved through a network of non-profit organisations spread throughout the region, capable of giving new life to items donated by residents and collected from their homes, thereby replacing the service offered by Hera for recycling or disposal. By the end of 2025, there will be 16 non-profit organisations partnering with the project, spread across the whole of the Emilia-Romagna region served by Hera, ensuring coverage of all major towns and cities. Since the project began, over 7,800 tonnes of waste have been diverted (including over 1,000 tonnes in 2025 alone), resulting in significant environmental benefits and reduced costs associated with waste collection.

Since 2020, the CAMST Group and the Hera Group have renewed their joint commitment to the circular economy through an agreement that transforms catering waste into energy resources.

The collaboration between the two companies recycles organic waste and used cooking oil, channelling them into processes for the production of biomethane and biofuels, thereby delivering significant environmental and economic benefits.

In 2024, the agreement was further expanded to include a service dedicated to the recovery of plastic film at the CAMST distribution centre at the Bologna Interporto, thanks to the support of Aliplast, thereby improving the quality of the recyclable material stream and reducing the environmental impact of catering operations. The project therefore not only ensures a virtuous circular economy system but also helps foster a culture of sustainability within organisations and among customers, adding further value to the partnership with a view to creating shared value.

SCART is the Hera Group’s artistic and communication project, which for almost thirty years has been interpreting and showcasing the value of the circular economy through the universal language of art. Originally conceived as a corporate waste art project within one of Herambiente’s industrial waste treatment plants, SCART has, over time, transformed materials destined for disposal into works capable of generating beauty, awareness and new connections with local communities. Today, SCART® is a registered trademark at European level and a permanent creative workshop that brings together industrial know-how, artistic research and social responsibility. SCART works are not merely art installations: they are cultural tools that invite us to pause, to look at what we consider waste with fresh eyes, and to question our consumption habits, the value of things, and our fragile relationship with the environment we inhabit. Because the ecological transition is not merely a technical or industrial issue, but first and foremost a cultural challenge, requiring a new way of thinking and a different approach to interpreting materials. In this sense, SCART acts as a bridge between the Hera Group’s industrial mission and art’s ability to speak to communities, making complex issues such as circularity and the responsible use of resources accessible and relatable. 

Over the years, the project has established numerous ongoing collaborations with businesses, public authorities, educational and cultural institutions, and schools, in addition to its long-standing partnership with the San Patrignano rehabilitation community, which is of great social value.

During 2025, the project further strengthened its role as a cultural and educational platform, actively involving students from the Academies of Fine Arts in Bologna, Ravenna and Florence, and from POLI.design – Politecnico di Milano. Among the most significant initiatives is the ‘Super Robot Champions of the Environment’ project developed with Automobili Lamborghini, which brought SCART’s creations to Lucca Comics & Games and Ecomondo, demonstrating how design, technology and creativity can interact in a virtuous way to transform waste materials into symbols of vision and innovation. Alongside this experience, SCART has been involved in numerous cultural events of national significance: from its historic participation in Art Insolite at the Teatro del Silenzio in Lajatico – an event linked to Andrea Bocelli’s concert, for which SCART has been exclusively creating stage costumes and sets since 2012 – to the installation for Milan Beauty Week, which reimagined the concept of beauty through a circular lens. Of particular significance was also the exhibition dedicated to some key figures in the world of sport, hosted in the Sala Laurana of the Prefecture of Pesaro, which attracted over 17,000 visitors and involved around 1,500 students, confirming the project’s ability to speak to diverse audiences and different generations. In 2025, SCART was also the focus of an exhibition in Lugo, featuring a selection of design works, costumes and portraits, and made the Christmas festivities even greener with the installation of Christmas trees made entirely from recycled materials for the Bologna headquarters of the Emilia-Romagna Region and for the courtyard of the Prefecture of Pesaro, bringing the message of circularity to institutional and symbolic contexts as well.

Through these initiatives too, SCART reaffirms its role as a “factory of visions”, capable of bringing together different regions, institutions, communities and generations around a shared vision, making a tangible contribution to the creation of shared value: not only by promoting environmentally responsible behaviour, but also by fostering culture, relationships and awareness. A project that demonstrates how waste does not mark an end, but rather an opportunity for rebirth, if one chooses to view materials – and the future – with a fresh perspective.

Among the initiatives launched over the years, since 2020 Herambiente has been running an innovative biomonitoring project to further its research into the environment surrounding some of its facilities and any impact they may have on it. To this end, the project, called Capiamo, aims to use bees as bioindicators to provide early warning of changes that may negatively affect biodiversity.

The Capiamo project, already underway at the waste-to-energy plant in Pozzilli (Is), the composting plant in Sant’Agata Bolognese (Bo) and the landfill in Serravalle Pistoiese (Pt), was extended in 2025 to include the waste-to-energy plant in Padua, the landfill in Cordenons (Pn) and the waste-to-energy plant in Bologna. At each site, three bee colonies were installed during the year; these colonies demonstrated excellent health and a remarkable ability to adapt, showing that even urban and industrial environments can be conducive to their development.

The Hera Group has once again been ranked among the top performers nationally for the technical quality of its water services: this is according to the ranking published by the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment (ARERA) in 2025, based on the results of the incentive scheme for the two-year period 2022 –2023, which rewards the achievement of high standards of infrastructure efficiency and service levels and confirms the multi-utility’s position of excellence for the third consecutive two-year period, i.e. since the ranking was established, with the Ferrara area ranking second nationally.

Based on the assessments carried out, ARERA has awarded the Hera Group a total of 26 bonuses for the technical quality results achieved: a particularly significant result as it covers all nine geographical areas managed through the companies Hera Spa, AcegasApsAmga and Marche Multiservizi.

The results achieved in reducing water losses in Bologna, Ferrara and Ravenna are particularly significant, whilst the Modena area and the Triveneto region were also recognised for the quality of their treated water, with particular reference to the city of Trieste. AcegasApsAmga has, in fact, received two awards for the parameter measuring performance in the treatment of urban waste water. 

It is not just a question of technical quality: with regard to the contractual quality objectives that monitor the commencement, management and termination of the contractual relationship and access to the service, ARERA has recognised the Hera Group’s excellent contractual quality results, rewarding its performance in managing its relationship with users.

In 2025, Hera published the seventeenth edition of the In buone acque (In good waters) report, which is the first and only example of a thematic report on tap water quality in Italy. The document presents, for each territory, the results of analyses relating to 37 regulated and unregulated parameters (as well as additional contaminants such as asbestos fibres) and demonstrates that drinking tap water is a safe, environmentally sustainable and cost-effective choice: its consumption avoids the production, transport and disposal of 460 million plastic bottles and saves a family of three an average of €600 a year.

Launched in 2013, the plan aims to lift bans on bathing and reduce pollution by 90% (measured in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) not discharged into the environment) through structural improvements to the sewerage and wastewater treatment system in the city of Rimini.

A total of 14 interventions are planned, capable of creating synergies that will also significantly reduce the risk of flooding in most residential areas by addressing hydraulic risk mitigation.

By 2025, Hera had completed 11 of the 14 projects, lifting bathing bans on 8,000 metres of beach, corresponding to almost 75% of the city’s coastline.

In 2025, Hera continued to expand its electric vehicle charging infrastructure network by installing 20 new public charging points, bringing to 680 the total number of public charging points currently in place (approximately 340 charging stations). The aim is to reach 950 units by 2029 through the award of new tenders and the signing of further memoranda of understanding. 

The commitment to electric mobility also extends to private charging through offers aimed at citizens and businesses for the supply of wallboxes and charging points. Over 230 private charging points were sold during the year, bringing the total to around 2,300 units. 

In total, 2,971 public and private charging points will be operational by 2025.  The target for 2029 is to exceed 5,700.

As part of the gender equality certification process in accordance with the UNI PDR 125 standard (involving 11 Group companies), a strategic plan has been drawn up containing a series of actions and objectives aimed at improving the indicators required by the certification.

In 2024, the year the certification was obtained, 12 objectives were identified relating to the following areas: recruitment and selection; career management; pay equity; work-life balance; parenting and care; and measures to prevent all forms of physical, verbal and digital abuse (harassment) in the workplace.

Through a structured corporate venture building (CVB) approach, HeraVenture operates as an incubation and acceleration platform for innovative projects, with the aim of transforming ideas and technologies into independent and scalable business ventures. This model draws on the expertise and strategic technological assets developed within the company.

In 2025, the first initiative under the Group’s model was launched: NexSuite, comprising NexMeter, NexAction and Sentinel, three technological solutions designed for distributors to ensure network security and pursue operational efficiency objectives.

2G electricity meters provide comprehensive and up-to-date consumption data, enabling the distributor to manage the network more efficiently, reliably and cost-effectively, with benefits for the entire energy supply chain: thanks to detailed and timely data, the supplier can offer proposals and services that are increasingly tailored to customers’ needs and specific requirements, whilst the user can gain greater awareness of their consumption, thereby achieving energy and financial savings.

In 2024, the Hera Group and the trade unions signed the Good Work Pact, a concrete, innovative and forward-looking agreement that redefines industrial relations. The Pact is based on five strategic pillars: health and safety; integrated supply chains and procurement; equity and inclusion; wellbeing; professional development and productivity; sustainability and shared value.

In 2025, numerous agreements were signed and various projects launched, including: improvements to the rules on rest periods for on-call staff; the harmonisation of second-level contractual arrangements for recently acquired companies; and the signing of the new Procurement Protocol. The latter, in line with the Good Work Pact, was signed in 2025 with the aim of promoting ethical working conditions, enhanced protections, more effective controls and structured participation by trade union representatives throughout the supply chain.

The integration of the Good Work Pact and the Procurement Protocol reflects the Hera Group’s strategy of making people the driving force behind change and leading a just transition, generating sustainable and shared value for all stakeholders.