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In the Modena area, Inrete Distribuzione Energia, a Hera Group company, has launched Italy’s first injection of a mixture of natural gas and 5% hydrogen into a gas distribution network serving a residential area. These trials are possible thanks to the protocol, unique in Italy, recently signed by Inrete, the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) and the Italian Gas Committee (CIG), which allows for testing, in compliance with the most demanding safety requirements, methane gas mixtures with blending of up to 10% hydrogen in distribution networks. The goal is to create favourable conditions for the progressive enabling of mixtures with increasing percentages of gas with a low fossil carbon content to be used in networks, thus making a concrete contribution to the energy transition. The initiative was presented today in Castelfranco Emilia (Modena) near the construction site of the residential area chosen for the trial, in an event attended by the President of the Emilia-Romagna region, Michele de Pascale; the mayor of Castelfranco Emilia, Giovanni Gargano; the CEO of the Hera Group, Orazio Iacono; the CEO of Inrete Distribuzione Energia, Federico Bronzini and representatives of the CIG. Trials, now in the third phase, to conclude with the last step at the end of the year Since 2021, Inrete has been at the head of a project that has already successfully experimented, twice, with injecting a mixture of natural gas and 2% hydrogen into the gas networks serving the same residential area that is now the focus of the new initiative. Having received full confirmation of the necessary measures, both in terms of technology and safety, the Hera Group company, after signing the protocol with the MASE and the CIG, has launched the third phase of the trials with the aim of exploring the various operational aspects that enable the infrastructure to receive, in its current layout, mixtures of natural gas and 5% hydrogen. The project will come to a conclusion towards the end of the year when, based on the results obtained, the feasibility of testing mixtures with an even higher quantity of hydrogen, up to 10%, will be evaluated. For futher information Press release Fabbri-Iacono-dePascale-Braglia-Lanzi-Gargano-Bronzini_870 1 (1).png The tests in the province of Modena were made possible by the protocol, unique in Italy, recently signed by Inrete Distribuzione Energia (Hera Group), the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security and the Italian Gas Committee pp_pionieri_110x150.jpg

Financial highlights Revenues at 12,889.7 million euro Ebitda* a 1,587.6 million euro (+6.2%) Net profit* for shareholders at 494.5 million euro (+31.8%) Gross operating investments at 860.3 million euro (+5.5%) Net financial debt settles at 3,963.7 million euro, with net debt/Ebitda* at 2.50x Return on invested capital increases, with ROI rising to 10.4% Proposed dividend rises to 15 euro cents per share (+7.1%) Operating and sustainability highlights Growth in operating results supported by all business areas Energy customers rise to 4.6 million (+20%), while over 7.5 million citizens have at least one service provided by the Group Innovative initiatives continue to help the communities served pursue the ecological transition and strengthen the resilience of assets under management, in line with the industrial strategy to 2028 and the Net Zero by 2050 target Shared-value Ebitda rises to 856.6 million euro (+10%) and shared-value investments amount to 655.1 million euro (76% of total investments) Economic value distributed in the areas served over 2.1 billion euro   The Board of Directors of the Hera Group, chaired by Executive Chairman Cristian Fabbri, unanimously approved the consolidated financial results at 31 December 2024, along with the Sustainability reporting, which as of this year is an integral part of the annual report, as foreseen by Directive 2022/2464/EU (CSRD), and the Report on remuneration policy and compensation paid. In 2024, the Hera Group continued along its path of growth in both free-market and regulated businesses; the 5.5% increase in gross operating investments demonstrates the Group’s ongoing focus on developing, enhancing and strengthening the resilience of the assets managed, whose solidity was confirmed even during the extreme weather and climate phenomena that hit Emilia-Romagna last autumn. In particular, the commitment to combine corporate growth and sustainable development with concrete initiatives capable of helping the country move towards the green transition was confirmed, fully consistent with the Group’s 2024-2028 Business plan and its Climate Transition Plan with a Net Zero by 2050 target. The operating and financial results thus highlight the ability to create value that orients the Group’s growth.   Cristian Fabbri, Executive Chairman of Hera Group: “The results achieved confirm the Hera Group’s ability to continue along its path of creating sustainable value. The increase in the main economic-financial indicators and continuous improvement in return on invested capital, with ROI rising to 10.4% and Total shareholders return exceeding 35%, are clear signs of the solidity of our industrial model. We obtained significant growth in both our free market and regulated businesses, with Ebitda reaching close to 1.6 billion euro in 2024, while gross operating investments stood at 860.3 million euro, 35% higher than the average of the previous five years, 76% of which was aimed at pursuing decarbonisation, resilience and the circular economy. The growth in shared-value Ebitda as well, in absolute and percentage terms, testifies to our constant focus on creating not only economic, but also social and environmental value. Evidence of this lies in the economic value distributed in the local areas in which we operate, which in 2024 reached 2.1 billion euro. In addition to our infrastructural growth, we have also achieved commercial growth in all free market businesses and, in particular, in energy supplies, where we have reached 4.6 million customers, up 20%. Thanks to this further development, more than 13% of Italy’s population now receives at least one service from the Hera Group. In light of the results achieved and the Group’s financial solidity, we will propose to the Shareholders Meeting the payment of a dividend set at 15 euro cents per share, up 7.1% compared to the last dividend paid. The effects of this increase will extend to our entire dividend policy for the upcoming years. The results for 2024 therefore confirm once again the validity of our Group’s strategic vision and constitute the first building block of our Business plan.”   Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group: “In 2024, the Hera Group confirmed its solidity and capacity for growth, recording an increase of over 30% in net profit for Shareholders, which rose to almost 500 million euro. All business areas contributed to this result, which proves the Hera Group’s ability to continue growing in a complex macroeconomic context. The positive operating performances were supported by effective financial operations, since 2024 benefited from the liability management and debt rationalisation initiatives undertaken since the beginning of the energy market crisis, which have helped maintain a net debt to Ebitda ratio of 2.5x, ensuring that the Group has significant financial solidity and flexibility among the lowest reached in last two decades. This operating-financial solidity allows us to continue along our path of external growth, fully consistent with the perspectives defined in the Business plan. Moreover, we continued to accelerate our commitment to the green transition, with a focus on decarbonisation, circular economy and resource protection, also thanks to the contribution coming from of the EIB financing line. In 2024, gross operating investments reached 860 million euro, continuing the trend in infrastructure development that has lasted for years, aimed at improving the quality of services and the efficiency of assets, thus making the local areas served increasingly liveable, competitive and resilient. The Hera Group has therefore once again demonstrated its ability to combine economic development and sustainability, making a significant contribution to the creation of value in the areas it serves and to the achievement of its sustainability objectives, using the lever of innovation to ensure efficiency and new opportunities for growth. Lastly, we must mention that this year we have drafted a Sustainability reporting that covers all the core standards defined by the ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards).” For further information Press release Investor Relations web area banner_be_csv_2024_ENG.png The year closed with growth in the main operating and financial indicators and in investments. The value created for all stakeholders and the Group’s financial solidity once again prove the validity of its multi-business model and ability to combine corporate growth with sustainable development. The proposed dividend was raised to 15 cents per share img_fy2024_110x150.jpg

The Hera Group is moving swiftly towards the circular economy of the future and has inaugurated, in Imola (Bologna), the first plant of its kind in Europe, capable of regenerating carbon fibre on an industrial scale. It is called FIB3R, a name that reflects the 3 R's that stand at the basis of the project: recover, reduce, reuse. Carbon fibre is thus recovered and reused, reducing the use of virgin fibre and therefore the environmental impact that would be required to produce it. There is one important competitive advantage: the fibre regenerated from FIB3R retains the virgin fibre’s characteristic lightness and high strength, guaranteeing - through a state-of-the-art pyrogasification process - that the regenerated product is ready to be reused, rewoven and/or impregnated, for the high-performance purposes for which this type of material is intended. The number of industrial sectors interested in these outstanding features is increasing, ranging from automotive to aerospace, nautical, furniture, textiles and fashion in the broadest sense, only to give a few examples.   The Hera Group’s commitment to advancing the ecological transition, as well as the expected increase in demand for carbon fibre over the next few years, have led it to anticipate this megatrend, accepting the challenge of applying it to this material as well, on an industrial scale. This will reinforce the virtuous path towards the circular economy that has been the basis of its strategy for years, combining economic growth with environmental sustainability. This path is the right one, as confirmed by the interest of the European Union, which has allocated FIB3R financing coming to more than 2.2 million euro as part of NextGenerationEU for its innovative technology and the strategic importance of the materials processed. The total investment planned by the Hera Group to build the Imola plant amounts to 8 million euro. At present, the plant is expected to produce 160 tonnes of recycled carbon fibre each year, with energy savings coming to 75% compared to virgin fibre. “FIB3R is the first plant of its kind in Europe able to recycle carbon fibre. It is aimed at promoting short and circular supply chains, in line with the strategy of making our served areas more competitive and resilient,” states Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group. “FIB3R is also a concrete example of how the Hera Group is able to combine technological innovation and sustainability, by exploiting the cross fertilisation between the advanced skills of the Group’s various sectors. Recovering carbon fibre not only reduces the environmental impact of this waste, but also creates new market opportunities in strategic industrial sectors. Investing in this kind of circular infrastructure increases the resilience of production chains, reduces dependence on imports of critical raw materials and, at the same time, creates value through sustainable business models. With over 100 advanced plants and 5 new facilities under construction, we have consolidated our country’s largest and most modern set of plants for material treatment and recovery, strengthening our role as a reference operator in the sector and a driving force for the circular economy in Italy. Our Business Plan confirms this strategy, with 2 billion euro in investments for 2024-2028 destined for regenerating resources, a commitment intended to generate value for all our stakeholders.” The inauguration of the FIB3R plant within the Group’s main facility in Imola, near Bologna, offered a chance to engage in a debate on the future of carbon fibre, combining innovation and sustainability. After the institutional welcome given by Marco Panieri, Mayor of Imola, and Irene Priolo, Councillor for the Environment, Local Planning, Mobility and Transport and Infrastructures of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Herambiente CEO Andrea Ramonda opened the event. This event saw the participation of important representatives of the industrial and academic communities: Davide Abate, Ferrari’s Chief Technologies and Infrastructures Officer; Roberto Frassine, Chairman of Assocompositi; Loris Giorgini, Director of the Department of Industrial Chemistry at the University of Bologna; Raffaella Luglini, Chief Sustainability Officer Leonardo; Horacio Pagani, Founder of Pagani Automobili; Andrea Rangone, Full Professor of Entrepreneurship and Digital Business Innovation at the Milan Politecnico; Ferruccio Resta, Chairman of the Fondazione Bruno Kessler FBK. The meeting came to a conclusion with a contribution by Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group. For further information Find out more on FIB3R webpage Press release https://eng.gruppohera.it/group_eng/innovation/carbon-fiber-recycling-fib3r fib3r Innovation and performance define the first plant of this kind in Europe to operate on an industrial scale, built in Imola to recycle carbon fibre composites while reducing environmental impact M_fiber-PP_CS (1).png

Binding agreement for 100%. Closing within 1H 2025 The Hera Group continues to grow in the Northeast with the acquisition, from the Marzotto Group, of Ambiente Energia Srl, a company involved in industrial liquid waste treatment at its Schio (Vicenza) plant. In Bologna, a binding agreement was signed for the acquisition of 100% of Ambiente Energia Srl, between Herambiente Servizi Industriali Srl (a subsidiary of Herambiente, which in turn is part of the Hera Group) and Manifattura Lane Gaetano Marzotto & Figli Spa. The acquisition will be closed within the first half of this year, following the usual conditions precedent for transactions of this kind. Transaction in line with the Business Plan to 2028 This transaction is part of the Hera Group’s growth strategy in the Waste management area, as defined by the recently approved Business Plan to 2028. More specifically, Ambiente Energia will extend Herambiente Servizi Industriali’s global waste management offer in one of the most productive and dynamic areas of Italy, where the Group is already well established with its subsidiaries Vallortigara in Torrebelvicino and Marano Vicentino (Vicenza), Aliplast in Ospedaletto d’Istrana (Treviso) and Recycla in Resana (Treviso) and Maniago (Pordenone). A multipurpose plant with an annual capacity of over 120,000 tonnes The Ambiente Energia plant, with an annual capacity of over 120,000 tonnes, thanks to its advanced technology, is able to treat numerous types of liquid waste and sludge, both hazardous and non-hazardous, such as paint and washing water, acids and bases, and water from chemical-physical treatments. The industrial added value of the agreement This capacity will give Herambiente Servizi Industriali greater flexibility and capacity in putting together its waste management and recovery projects proposed to companies in the area. Existing Ambiente Energia customers will have access to the know-how of Herambiente and its subsidiaries to develop resource valorisation and circular economy projects, above and beyond the treatment of liquid waste and sludge. For further information Press release acquisizione-Ambiente-Energia_870 1.png A binding agreement has been signed for the acquisition of Ambiente Energia, based in Schio near Vicenza and part of the Marzotto Group, through subsidiary Herambiente Servizi Industriali acquisizione Ambiente Energia_110.jpg

According to Standard & Poor’s, the Hera Group is the world’s best company in the Multi & Water Utility sector and has been included, for the fifth consecutive year, in S&P Global’s Sustainability Yearbook, for its best performances in three areas: Governance&Economics, Environment and Social. This result comes after Hera was included in S&P Global’s Dow Jones Europe & World Indices, two authoritative international stock market indices that include outstanding listed companies based on their performance in the areas of environmental, social and governance sustainability. More specifically, Hera is in the “Top 1%” of the best performing companies in its sector, with a score of 80/100, compared to a sector average of 35/100. This leadership is based on its exemplary ability to seize “market opportunities” and to carefully control and manage “risks and crisis” and “cybersecurity”. This analysis by S&P’s Global portrays a company at the forefront that, for the fifth year in a row, leads a benchmark made up of outstanding companies in the industry worldwide. Morningstar Sustainalytics has also included the Hera Group in its 2025 list of the best companies in terms of performance in the quality of risk management. In particular, the Group also stood out as “Industry Top Rated”, obtaining a score that places it at the top of its reference sector, alongside companies with one of the highest risk/return profiles, having fully regulated businesses and being highly protected from risks arising from the macro environment. These positive assessments confirm the Hera Group’s ability to pursue a sustainability strategy along a path that includes a constant commitment to developing the entire value chain, with a careful eye to global best practices. These recognitions come shortly after the presentation of the new Business Plan to 2028, in which the aspects highlighted by analysts are confirmed: a company that continues to sustain a significant creation of shared value, which translates into an average annual Total Shareholders Return expected at a double-digit percentage rate. For further information Press release HERA---SPGlobal_Yearbook_Emblem_2025_870 1.png For the fifth consecutive year, Hera has been included in S&P Global’s Yearbook, published today, in the “Top 1%” category among the world's best performing companies in the Multi & Water Utility sector HERA - SPGlobal_Yearbook_Emblem_2025_110.jpg

Acantho, the Hera Group’s digital company, which since October 2023 has also included the telecommunications company Asco TLC, now introduces its new HERABIT logo. Thanks to its fibre optic infrastructure network and four data centres located in Imola, Siziano (Pavia), Santa Lucia di Piave and San Vendemiano (both in the province of Treviso), the HERABIT brand will be used to offer Data Centre, Hybrid Multicloud, Data & Voice Communications, Cyber Security e Smart Solutions services to household customers and private and public companies, with a particularly strong presence in Emilia-Romagna and Northeastern Italy. The new HERABIT logo, which expresses the values of the Hera Group, of which the digital company is part, effectively conveys the key words that sum up its activities: digital innovation through Data Centre services and broadband network connections for businesses. The acronym BIT (Business Innovation Technology), in fact, perfectly encapsulates not only the company's skills, but also its daily commitment to turning technology into a value for the people, communities and companies that live and operate in the areas served, given that a “BIT”, as is well-known, is also the unit of measurement of digital space. This new brand expresses the dynamic evolutionary direction in which the digital company is now headed, in order to make the most of market challenges, with distinctive commercial offers, consistent with the values of the Hera Group, and competitive, sustainable and highly innovative solutions. In particular, this path includes expanding the Data Centre services offered, which are essential to guarantee the security, reliability and operational continuity of customers’ business, enhancing the skills acquired and strengthening synergies with the Hera Group. For further information Press release   Cookies disabled - content not available   HERABIT_Logo_870 1.png Acantho, the Hera Group's digital company, has been renewed to offer increasingly advanced services HERABIT_Logo_110.jpg

BUSINESS PLAN TO 2028, OPERATING AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Five-year gross investments at 5.1 billion euro Return on net invested capital at 9.5% Structural growth in Ebitda reaching 1.7 billion euro EPS to rise by approximately 6% CAGR Dividends up 21% (rising to 17 cents per share) and average annual yield at roughly 5% Average annual total shareholder return (TSR) at 11%. Net debt/Ebitda stably below 3x over the period covered by the plan and projected at 2.8x in 2028 BUSINESS AND SUSTAINABILITY HIGHLIGHTS A portfolio balanced between regulated and free-market activities maintained, generating resilient results and capable of grasping emerging opportunities 2.6 billion euro in investments aligned with the European Taxonomy for Sustainable Investments (96% of eligible investments) Shared-value investments amounting to 77% over the entire five-year Plan 45% increase in shared-value (CSV) Ebitda over the period covered by the Plan, reaching 66% of total Ebitda in 2028 Commitment to reduce total CO2 emissions by 37% within 2030 and Net Zero by 2050 confirmed 25% of total investments will contribute to digitisation and innovation, 47% to increasing the resilience of infrastructures to climate change and 60% to the ecological transition 10.8 billion euro in economic value distributed over the 2024-2028 five-year period to stakeholders in the areas in which the Group operates 2024 PRELIMINARY RESULTS, HIGHLIGHTS Ebitda exceeds 1.55 billion euro (+4% vs 2023) Net debt/Ebitda ratio below 2.6x (stable compared to 2023) Dividends forecast at 15 eurocents (+7.1% vs 2023), higher than expected in the previous Plan The Hera Group’s Board of Directors, chaired by Executive Chairman Cristian Fabbri, reviewed the preliminary results for 2024 results and approved the Business Plan to 2028.   Cristian Fabbri, Executive Chairman of Hera Group: “A 5.1-billion-euro investment plan, rising by 46% compared to the previous five-year period and supporting sustainable industrial development that increases the resilience of our infrastructures, will allow us to target a 2028 Ebitda coming to 1.7 billion euro, supported by visible growth, both internal and external. This growth fully meets the objective of creating shared value for all stakeholders: profits will indeed increase by 30% (from 2023 to 2028), as will the contribution coming from sustainable activities to Group Ebitda, reaching 66%. The improvement in the objectives of the new Business Plan, along with the positive forecasted for 2024, allow us to revise our dividend policy upwards, proposing a 7% increase, compared to 2024, as early as 2025, reaching 21% by 2028. The economic value distributed over the 5 years covered by the Plan to stakeholders in the areas in which we operate also grows, to almost 11 billion euro.”   Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group: "For 2024, we expect to close with Ebitda over 1.55 billion euro, a result supported by all businesses in our portfolio, especially structural activities. This is even more significant when compared to the already outstanding 2023, which was affected by several non-recurring revenue opportunities, above all in the energy sector. This performance allowed us to fund an increase in investments and to further improve our financial solidity, with a net debt/Ebitda ratio below 2.6x, stable compared to the previous year. These good results are perfectly consistent with the new Business Plan, which forecasts 5.1 billion euro in gross investments, of which roughly 3 billion euro will be dedicated to the green transition in the areas served. The significant financial commitment required to support the investment plan, benefitting industrial development, will in any case be financed by a strong cash generation, which will also make it possible to keep financial leverage below the prudential level of 3x through to 2028, confirming our financial solidity and creating further flexibility to seize future opportunities". 2024 PRELIMINARY RESULTS The year that just ended saw a positive performance of the industrial margins of all businesses in the portfolio, with Ebitda expected to exceed 1,550 million euro, as against 1,495 million euro in 2023. The “structural” growth observed in the preliminary results, mainly supported by factors involved in organic growth, is even more significant when compared to 2023 Ebitda adjusted for non-recurring contributions, totalling roughly 100 million euro, at 1,395 million euro. A robust cash generation, also supported by efficient working capital management, allowed the net debt/Ebitda ratio to remain below 2.6x, in line with the 2023 result. Considering these figures, the dividend policy was revised upwards: the Board of Directors is expected to propose a dividend payment of 15 eurocents per share, up 7.1% with respect to the 2023 coupon paid in 2024, to be compared with the 3.5% growth forecast in the previous Business Plan (14.5 eurocents). BUSINESS PLAN TO 2028 The new Plan’s strategic framework confirms creating sustainable value benefiting all stakeholders thanks to a balanced business portfolio as the Hera Group’s goal, developing resilient industrial assets even in a scenario marked by continuous volatility and an increasing frequency of extreme weather events linked to climate change. Creating value: a target of 1.7 billion euro for 2028 Ebitda, with a 30% rise in profits The Group’s strategy focuses on creating value through four main growth levers: an efficient allocation of capital to investment projects with the best sustainability-risk-return profiles, expansion of market shares, an enlarged scope of operations thanks to M&A transactions and efficiency gains in both operating and financial costs. The plan aims to generate value benefiting all stakeholders, through financial, environmental and social sustainability objectives. The plan envisages a structural growth of Ebitda by 475 million Euro to 2028 with a CAGR of +7% exactly reflecting the targets set out in the previous Business Plan. This structural growth will more than compensates the eventual shortfall during the period covered by the Plan of some temporary business opportunities of the amount of 170 million euro and drive in any case Group Ebitda to 1,700 million euro in 2028, up from the previous target of the Plan to 2027. Focus on the sustainable development of the entire regional ecosystem, with steady growth in shared-value Ebitda, at over 1.1 billion euro in 2028 (66% of total Ebitda) The Hera Group has included initiatives in its Plan that have adequate profitability and are consistent with operating-financial balance, which at the same time guarantee that sustainable value creation is enhanced. By maintaining a focus on decarbonisation, circular economy, resilience and innovation, “shared-value Ebitda” is expected to increase significantly, exceeding 1,100 million euro in 2028, as against 776 million euro in 2023, reaching 66% of the Group’s total Ebitda and respecting the target of 70% in 2030. In the 2024-2028 five-year period, shared-value Ebitda will increase by 45%, reflecting the growing weight of initiatives that not only generate margins for the company, but are also in line with the goals on the UN Agenda. Gross investments at over 5 billion euro, with financial leverage remaining below 3x Over the 2024-2028 period, the Business Plan calls for total investments amounting to 5.1 billion euro. This financial commitment is 6% higher than the one included in the previous strategic document and 46% higher than the investments made over the last five years. Indeed, in addition to the 4.6 billion euro of investments directly financed by the Hera Group, almost 500 million in resources will come from the PNRR and other institutions. Of these investments, 61% will be earmarked for regulated businesses, while the remaining 39% will go towards fuelling the growth of free-market businesses. More than half of the investments (2.5 billion euro, or 54%) will be dedicated to networks. Furthermore, approximately 8% of the resources will be used to seize external growth opportunities. In line with the content of the European framework, the Group estimates that operating investments coming to 2.6 billion euro (or 96% of eligible investments) will be aligned with the European Taxonomy for sustainable projects, thus fully accessing subsidised sustainable finance instruments, with benefits also in terms of financial costs. 77% of the investment plan (or 4 billion euro) will go towards initiatives capable of creating “shared-value Ebitda”. For further information Press release Visit Investors web area PrimoPiano_Piano-Industriale_ENG_rev.png Development, resilience and creating value shared with all stakeholders confirmed as the strategic pillars of the new business plan, which allocates more than 5 billion euro in investments to accelerate the achievement of ecological transition targets and further increase the resilience of networks and plants PrimoPiano_BP2024-2028_110x150_eng.jpg

The Boards of Directors of AIMAG S.p.A. and Hera S.p.A. agreed to sign a framework agreement that will introduce a new phase in the project for an industrial partnership between the two parties. The transaction will be subject to the usual conditions foreseen for this type of operation and to all communications and approvals by the competent authorities and bodies. The parties expect to complete the transaction within June 2025. The path includes, among other things, a capital increase in kind consisting of a conferral by Hera to AIMAG of an approximately 45% stake in a Newco to which the activities pertaining to the integrated water service in the province of Modena, currently owned by Hera S.p.A., will be transferred, concerning the management of 7,300 km of networks serving approximately 470,000 thousand citizens. As of now, a single hub for Modena’s water cycle will thus be formed, making possible synergies and integrated developments of the current systems and enabling greater investments and significant improvements in the resilience of the water network. This reinforcement of AIMAG’s capital structure, along with the industrial and financial synergies obtained through Hera’s industrial governance, implying its consolidation line by line in the accounts, will enable an investment plan in the 2025-2028 period amounting to a total of over 250 million euro, for AIMAG and the Newco, to enhance the infrastructures of all portfolio activities, with consequent positive effects for all stakeholders. For further information Press release Gruppo Hera sede di Bologna_870 1.png The agreement calls for a capital increase in kind in the coming months through the conferral to AIMAG by Hera of an approximately 45% stake in a Newco managing the integrated water service in the province of Modena, currently managed by Hera Gruppo Hera sede di Bologna_110 (1).jpg

For the sixteenth consecutive year, we have been been certified as a Top Employer for our labour policies. This is a remarkable achievement, since this certification is among the most significant recognitions internationally given to companies that meet high standards in human resource management by the Top Employers Institute, a global certifier of corporate excellence in HR (Human Resource), based in the Netherlands. Top Employers Certification is awarded to companies that meet the high standards required by the HR Best Practices Survey. The analysis, which is highly attentive and increasingly selective from year to year, covers 6 macro-areas related to human resource management and examines in depth 20 different topics and the respective best practices, including: recognition of people and their professionalism, work environment, career opportunities, training and development, valuing diversity, fairness and inclusion, and well-being. This year the Top Employers programme recognised and certified 2,429 Top Employers in 125 countries worldwide, including the Hera Group. The main strengths that enabled us to achieve this important result are: safety, procurement, sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing and people development. In these areas, investments coming to 60 million euro have been planned for the 2024-2027 four-year period in staff training, a third of which will be dedicated to safety. 2,600 new hires are also foreseen along with many initiatives for the development of new skills, to support parents, frail people, caregivers and to valorise different abilities. The Group’s investment in and commitment to the growth and wellbeing of its people includes combating gender-based violence and promoting inclusion. The good quality of life of the Group’s over 10,000 employees is also supported by its extensive welfare plan, offering them a wide range of services, in which the company invests 18 million euro every year. The most significant initiatives include free psychological support sessions, personalised diet plans and sessions with physiotherapists and posturologists, health promotion and prevention programmes with free check-ups and screenings, initiatives to support parenting and childhood education, and sustainable mobility. For further information Press release Primo_Piano_Top_Employer_Italy_2025 (3).png We have been confirmed as one of the best companies in Italy and worldwide in human resource management, thanks to its commitment to combining corporate growth, collective wellbeing and sustainable development primo_Piano_Top_110x150 (2).png

The Hera Group has started the year with a new milestone in sustainable finance. The first Italian company to issue a green bond in 2014, today Hera successfully launched its fourth green bond, covered by its "Euro Medium Term Note Programme" (EMTN) bond issue plan, recently updated and increased in its maximum amount. This bond respects the Group’s Green Financing Framework (GFF), prepared on the basis of ICMA principles, aligned with the criteria of the European Taxonomy and certified by an independent firm. The issue attracted significant interest from international investors, receiving orders for approximately 2.75 billion euro, almost 5.5 times the amount offered. With this issue, Hera has once again given the market an opportunity to finance the Group’s strategic projects aimed at the green transition and aligned with the Taxonomy, once again confirming itself internationally as a reference company for sustainable finance. The characteristics of the Group’s fourth green bond and the areas financed The fourth green bond of Hera Group amounts to a total of 500 million euro, repayable in 6.5 years with a 3.250 % coupon and a 3.396% yield. The settlement date of the new issue has been scheduled for 15 January 2025. This green bond consists of senior, non-convertible, unsecured notes, intended for circulation among qualified investors. The new green bond is also expected to be assigned a rating in line with Hera’s. The transaction saw significant participation coming from international investors (in particular, Great Britain, France and Germany), mainly green and sustainable, confirming the interest towards the Group coming from abroad. The bond is expected to be listed, as of the issue date, on the regulated market of Euronext Dublin and, at the same time or at a later date, on the regulated market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and on the ExtraMOT PRO multilateral trading system managed by Borsa Italiana. The funds raised will be used to finance or refinance numerous projects, already ongoing or included in the Group’s Business Plan, selected on the basis of the Green Financing Framework (GFF), which work towards one or more of the goals on the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs), subdivided into 3 areas: 1. integrated water cycle (aligned to SDGs 6, 13 and 14): construction and extension of infrastructures for water collection, treatment and supply, with projects for wastewater collection and treatment; 2. circular economy, pollution prevention and control (meeting SDGs 11, 12 and 13): advanced projects in plastics regeneration, anaerobic digestion of organic waste for the production of compost and biomethane, and waste collection and transport systems; 3. energy efficiency and infrastructures (consistent with SDGs 7, 11 and 13): production of renewable electricity through photovoltaics and geothermal energy, development of district heating networks, installation, maintenance and repair of energy efficiency equipment and renewable energy technologies, including electricity transmission and distribution grids. For further information Press release   sede_bo_870 margini arrotondati.png Maturing in 6.5 years, it will fund the Group’s strategic capex plan focused on sustainable and resilient management of the integrated water cycle, in the circular economy for regenerating resources and in the energy transition for developing renewables and energy efficiency sede_bo_110 (2).jpg

The Hera Group, acting through its subsidiary Hera Comm, and Ascopiave signed the deed by which the latter transfers 25% of the share capital of EstEnergy, a commercial joint venture established in 2019 which is the largest energy operator in the Northeastern Italy. The Hera Group’s holding in EstEnergy thus rises to 100%, while Ascopiave concludes its withdrawal from the company, after selling an initial 8% in 2022 and a further 15% in 2023. The possibility of dilating the withdrawal over time was a value for both companies, since it allowed Ascopiave’s local roots to be enhanced alongside Hera’s industrial approach to managing sales activities. The customer base’s economic fundamentals thus significantly improved, expressing synergies and opportunities for the supply of value-added services and laying solid foundations for further growth in margins. In five years, by rationalising the number of companies and renewing IT systems, it has been possible to improve the quality of customer relations by combining the local nature of this relationship with a commercial approach in line with the best standards. This has led to increased and reinforced contact channels and types of energy solutions for customers, with the aim of supporting them along the road to decarbonisation. The transaction formalised today, whose value came to approximately 232 million euro, results from Ascopiave exercising the put option for its shareholding in the company, as defined in the agreements signed between the parties when the partnership was established. This amount will be paid within July 2025, at the same time as the transfer of the shares. This transaction, in fact, follows up in full on the agreements made in 2019, which were therefore already fully reflected in the Hera Group’s net financial position. The early exercise of the put option, with respect to its natural maturity, entails a potential prospective benefit in the income statement, deriving from the Hera Group’s lower financing costs compared to the notional accounting rate applied to the value of the put option. The Hera Group thus further strengthens its position as Italy's third operator in the energy sector, reaching 4.7 million electricity and gas customers. This transaction will enable the Ascopiave Group, whose partnership with the Hera Group continues through its shareholdings in Hera Comm and Acantho, to improve the sustainability of its capital structure, in line with the goals set out in its strategic plan and contributing to the financial coverage of investments in core and diversification activities. For further information Press release   Cristian-Fabbri---Isabella-Malagoli---Nicola-Cecconato_870 1.png Following Ascopiave’s decision to exercise its option to sell its 25% stake in EstEnergy, Hera Comm becomes the sole shareholder of the largest energy operator in the Northeastern Italy Cristian Fabbri - Isabella Malagoli - Nicola Cecconato verticale_110.jpg

We have been confirmed for the fifth consecutive time in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Following up on the previous editions, we were included in both the European and global indexes. The DJSI, an authoritative international stock market index, includes the highest performing listed companies in the Environmental, Social and Governance & Economics dimensions. More specifically, we have reconfirmed ourselves among the world leaders in its sector for the fourth time in the last five years. A recognition that confirms both the results achieved and the complete and transparent sustainability reporting, along with its strategic approach in pursuing the creation of shared value for all stakeholders. This strategy has also brought further elements perfectly consistent with this approach during 2024: the Good Work Deal to define strategies and commitments on safety, inclusion, training and environmental sustainability the Climate Transition Plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 Hera_Pro for the sustainable development of the entire supply chain We have also been present for some years in a row in the top ten of Refinitiv’s international Diversity & Inclusion Index ranking, for our commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion and people development. We are the first Italian company in the ESG Identity Corporate Index 2024 (third time in the last four years), for the full and conscious integration of sustainability policies in our business strategies. For further information Press release sede_bo_870 1.png This comes as further recognition of the company’s approach to creating shared value for all stakeholders sede_bo_110.jpg

The Hera Group has been awarded 9.4 million euro to finance two pioneering projects in the development of advanced agrivoltaic systems. This funding falls within the measures of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), as Investment 1.1 “Agrivoltaic Development”, under Mission 2 “Green Revolution and Ecological Transition”, Component 2, “Renewable Energy, Hydrogen, Grid and Sustainable Mobility”. The plants will make an important contribution to the energy transition in Emilia-Romagna thanks to their total peak power coming to over 19 MW, equivalent to the consumption of approximately 11,000 Italian households, with savings amounting to 7,700 tonnes of CO³ per year, equal to the absorption capacity of 830 hectares of forest, corresponding to about 1,200 football pitches. More specifically, 6.6 million euro have been allocated to the Hera Group’s project for developing an Energy Park in Faenza, while 2.8 million euros will go to the Cesena project of Horowatt, a newco established by Hera and Orogel, an agricultural cooperative company. These NRRP grants will reinforce the Hera Group’s investments in the renewable energy sector and the installation of agrivoltaic plants, and give further recognition to Hera’s commitment in the field of energy transition and decarbonisation in favour of the areas served. Agrivoltaic development projects are part of the strategy outlined in the Group’s Business Plan, which includes numerous initiatives and investments to achieve carbon neutrality, reduce emissions and increase the production of green energy. These initiatives also fall under the Group’s Climate Transition Plan, which aims to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. Horowatt: Orogel’s green agriculture 4.0 revolution Horowatt will construct an innovative agrivoltaic plant at the Cesena facility of the Orogel Group, capable of producing roughly 8 GWh each year, more than 80% of which will be self-consumed energy used by the agricultural cooperative’s own plants. The agrivoltaic plant will be built and managed by Horowatt and will integrate with the existing cogeneration plant built and managed by Hera Servizi Energia, the Hera Group’s ESCo. This is a highly important work, both for reducing Orogel’s energy costs and for its environmental benefits. In fact, it is estimated that the plant will lead to an annual saving of about 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted. Faenza Energy Park: an urban forest with renewable energy production The Faenza Energy Park will be built on a vast area, covering about 70 hectares to the west of the city. This new plant will consist of over 22,000 double-sided panels with a total power of about 14 MW and is estimated to produce 21.5 GWh of electricity per year, equivalent to the consumption of about 7,500 families, with an annual carbon dioxide saving of over 5,700 tonnes. The electricity produced will be directly fed into the grid, significantly reducing Faenza’s carbon footprint and increasing the city’s energy self-sufficiency. For further information Press release EnergyPark_Faenza_870 1.png This funding will make it possible to accelerate the Group’s strategic investments for developing innovative initiatives aimed at producing renewable energy without further land consumption, thus promoting the energy transition and decarbonisation in Emilia-Romagna EnergyPark_Faenza_110.jpg

The Global Commitment Annual Progress Report 2024, which provides a detailed overview of the progress made by the more than 500 signatories of the Global Commitment in the fight against plastic waste pollution, was presented today. Launched in 2018 by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Global Commitment brings together companies, governments, and NGOs in a concrete effort to promote the transition to a circular economy and innovation in materials and business models, while addressing plastic waste pollution. The signatories to the initiative, including the Hera Group, the only Italian utility company to sign up to it, commit to setting ambitious targets to report on and to publicly report progress annually. The 2024 Annual Report highlights, among others, the following progress: The signatories' efforts have prevented the use of 9.6 million tonnes of virgin plastic since 2018, equivalent to 1 trillion single-use plastic bags. For the sixth consecutive year, signatories continued to increase the use of post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR) containers. By increasing the use of recycled plastic, the signatories are avoiding the extraction of one barrel of oil every two seconds, eliminating the equivalent of the carbon emissions of a city of almost 750,000 people. In particular, the Hera Group has committed to increase the following by 2025 (compared to 2017): plastic collected in the municipalities served by 30%; plastic sorted and sent for recycling in its plants by 50%; plastic recycled by Aliplast by 70%.   The Hera Group’s figures at the end of 2023 indicate that the path taken is the right one. With regard to the plastics collected in the municipalities served, the multi-utility reached its 2025 target three years ahead of schedule, also thanks to the contribution of citizens who, in recent years, have improved sorting with a view to recycling. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an international charity whose mission is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy to address some of the greatest challenges of our time, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution from plastic sources. Founded in 2010, the Foundation works with a network of public and private sector actors, as well as academia, to design and build circular economy initiatives and solutions. Since 2017, the Hera Group has taken part in the Foundation's programme.   For further information Consult the Global Commitment Annual Report 2024 img_primo_piano_commitment.png The annual report highlights the progress achieved by signatories in combating plastic pollution. Hera is the only Italian company in the sector to sign up to the initiative. It plans to increase the amount of plastic collected and sent for recycling by 2025 Global Commitment 2024_110.png

Financial highlights Revenues at 8,187.4 million euro (-25.3%) Ebitda at 1,037.6 million euro (+3.1%) Net profit for Shareholders at 282.9 million euro (+20.1%) Gross operating capex at 561.1 million euro (+9.2%) Net financial debt at 4.175,0 million euro and Net debt/Ebitda ratio at 2.74x Business highlights Growth in operating results sustained by increased volumes in energy sales and volumes treated in the waste management area, which confirmed its resilience within a less expansive macroeconomic context Positive contribution to operating growth also coming from all regulated activities, following the Authority’s revisions of tariff systems and ongoing cost-efficiency projects Continuous growth in the customer base: over 7.5 million citizens with at least one service provided by the Group Innovative initiatives maintained to accompany the ecological transition in the local areas served and strengthen the resilience of assets, in line with the strategy to achieve Net Zero by 2050 Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors, chaired by Executive Chairman Cristian Fabbri, unanimously approved the consolidated quarterly report at 30 September 2024. The first nine months of 2024 showed a decrease in turnover, caused by lower energy prices, and a confirmation of growth in operating results and capex, even compared to the significant growth achieved in 2023, sustained by non-recurring components as well. More specifically, the 9.2% increase in operating capex demonstrates the Group’s ongoing focus on developing, enhancing and strengthening the resilience of the assets under management, whose reliability was confirmed once again during the extreme weather and climate phenomena recently recorded in Emilia-Romagna region. Moreover, Hera’s commitment to projects capable of accelerating the path towards the green transition of the communities served remained constant, fully in line with its five-year Business Plan to 2027. Excellent results were achieved in business operations, with growth in both free market and regulated activities, which sustained the increase in Ebitda and operating income and ensured solid value creation for all stakeholders.   Cristian Fabbri, Executive Chairman of Hera Group: “Fully in line with the first half of 2024, the results for the nine months of the year point towards significant growth in all main indicators of our income statement and steady progress in the value created for all stakeholders. In particular, the rise in net profit attributable to Shareholders, which increased by more than 20%, and the increase in return on invested capital, now at 9.5%, confirm that we are fully implementing our Business Plan. The positive financial results were accompanied by an ongoing focus on sustainable growth in the areas in which we operate, and this commitment was confirmed by shared-value Ebitda, which came to roughly 54% of overall Ebitda. These results leverage the Group’s ability to grow in both its free market and regulated activities, continuing along the path of ‘structural’ sustainable development in favour of the communities served. With the beginning of the Gradual Protection Service “STG” provided to customers, and our continuous commercial development, we now supply at least one service to over 7.5 million citizens.”   Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group: "The report as at 30 September shows an increase coming to over 20% in net profit attributable to Shareholders, which rose to approximately 283 million euro. The Group achieved particularly solid growth, with an important contribution coming from regulated businesses, which benefited from changes in the regulatory framework, and from the waste management business, which showed a continuously increasing Ebitda, especially in the free market, consolidating its leadership in this sector despite a complex macroeconomic context. The operational performance, already positive, was accompanied by a significant contribution from financial management, which are progressively benefitting in 2024 from the liability management and debt rationalisation initiated in the second half of 2023. Moreover, partially thanks to the contribution coming from the EIB financing line, the Group continued to accelerate along its path of green transition, decarbonisation, circular economy and protection of water resources in the territories served. Gross operating investments were up by approximately 10%, and have been rising for many years precisely to work towards a major infrastructure development, with the aim of improving the quality of services and the resilience of all assets. The net debt to Ebitda ratio, which remained steadily at around 2.74x, provides the Group with significant financial solidity and flexibility, allowing it to successfully grasp opportunities for external growth, in line with the targets of the Business Plan".   Revenues at over 8 billion euro At 30 September 2024, revenues amounted to 8,187.4 million euro, down from 10,955.0 million euro in the same period of 2023 (-25.3%), mainly due to the drop in energy commodity prices and a reduction in incentivised activities on energy-saving services. The decrease in turnover due to lower volumes of gas was more than offset by the higher volumes of electricity sold, thanks to significant commercial development, and by higher tariff revenues in network services for regulated businesses, based on the Authority’s new return benchmarks. Ebitda rises to 1,037.6 million euro Ebitda for the first nine months of 2024 increased to 1,037.6 million euro (+3.1%), as against 1,006.8 million euro at 30 September 2023. This growth was entirely organic and structural, driven by the water cycle and the good performances of the waste management and electricity areas, which allowed the Group to fully offset the loss of margins linked to the super-ecobonus, included in the gas area, and confirming once again the solidity of its multi-business portfolio. Ebit increases to 522.5 million euro Ebit for the first nine months of 2024 rose to 522.5 million euro, up 3.5% from 504.6 million euro in the same period of 2023. This increase was supported by a normalisation of provisions, due to a standardisation in the prices of commodities in energy markets; this partly offset the increase in amortisation related to the trend in investments over the last few years, mainly linked to the development of plants in the waste management sector and in water and energy distribution networks. Financial operations: excellent results in the first 9 months Financial operations for the first nine months of 2024 amounted to 89 million euro, improving by 50.7 million compared to the same period of the previous year, mainly due to the rationalisation of the financial structure. Net profit pertaining to Shareholders up by over 20% At 30 September 2024, net profit amounted to 312.1 million euro (+16.8%), compared to 267.1 million in the same period of 2023, with a tax rate coming to 28%, up slightly mainly due to lower tax benefits. Net profit attributable to Shareholders rose to 282.9 million euro, up 20.1% compared to the 235.5 million euro seen at 30 September 2023. Strong growth in operating investments and the Group’s financial solidity confirmed In the first nine months of 2024, operating investments, including capital grants, amounted to 561.1 million euro, up 47.1 million euro compared to the previous year (+9.2%) and mainly related to development work on plants, networks and infrastructures, as well as regulatory upgrading, particularly in energy and water networks. The Group’s financial solidity was fully confirmed, with a net debt/Ebitda ratio of 2.74x. This figure remained constant throughout the year, leaving ample financial flexibility for potential new opportunities in the future. The total amount of net financial debt in the first nine months of 2024 came to 4,175 million euro, in line with the 4,148.9 million euro seen at 30 September 2023. Financial returns improved both on invested capital, which stood at almost 8 billion euro, and on equity: ROI rose to 9.5% (from 9% at 30 September 2023) and ROE to 11.7% (from 10.6% in the first nine months of the previous year).   For further information Press release Visit Investors web area   primo_piano_risultati9M_eng.png The first nine months of the year closed with growth in the main financial indicators and in capital expenditures, in line with the first two quarters and the Business Plan targets img_9M2024_110x150.jpg

From 5 to 8 November 2024, the Fiera di Rimini will host Ecomondo, the leading European fair on ecological transition, technological and industrial innovation in environmental services and the green economy, focusing on waste and resources, the circular bio-economy and water. We are at Pavilion C1, Stand 500, with a two-story exhibition space covering 550 square metres, where Hera Group is present along with Herambiente and its subsidiaries (Aliplast, Recycla, Herambiente Servizi Industriali, TRS Ecology, Vallortigara, A.c.r. Reggiani). The stand is decorated with works of art made from recycled materials by SCART, the Hera Group project devoted to the artistic regeneration of industrial waste, in full compliance with the circular economy. This year, SCART presents a new version of the "Gli Animali" project, proposed at Ecomondo in 2015. It is one of the projects that have achieved great success in many traveling exhibitions in recent years, and in 2024 it’s be proposed again with more new works. In addition to the students of the Academies of Fine Arts of Florence and Ravenna, the artists of the SCART community Alberto Salvetti and Fabrizio Giorgi worked on this new exhibition. In the external area of the main entrance dedicated to Hera Group, the “Capodoglio Giovanni” returns, created by Edoardo Malagigi by reusing over 3000 food containers. The Capodoglio is 13 meters long and is a faithful reproduction of a sperm whale that lives between Sardinia, the Island of Elba and Toulon, it’s called Giovanni and was registered in 1993.   For further information Visit Ecomondo website   null null null null null null null null null null null null gallery ecomondo 01.jpg gallery ecomondo 02.jpg gallery ecomondo 03.jpg gallery ecomondo 04.jpg gallery ecomondo 05.jpg gallery ecomondo 06.jpg gallery ecomondo 07.jpg gallery ecomondo 08.jpeg gallery ecomondo 09.jpeg gallery-ecomondo-10.jpg gallery-ecomondo-11.jpg gallery-ecomondo-12.jpg null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null eco-870x320 eco-110x150

At ENLIT Europe 2024, one of the most important fairs for energy transition focusing on innovations in smart grid technologies for decarbonization, Hera Group and Panasonic Industry Europe strengthen their collaboration by extending the commercial agreement for the distribution of the innovative NexMeter gas meter to the European gas distribution market, with potential future partnerships with global operators. The collaboration between Gruppo Hera and Panasonic dates back to 2019, when the multi-utility launched its 4.0 smart gas meter, equipped with advanced safety and leakage reduction functions, which later evolved in terms of hardware and software. Conceived by an industrial group with a strong focus on sustainability, NexMeter is mainly built with recyclable components. Since 2021, Hera has also introduced recycled plastic components and obtained the “compatibility” label for green gas mixtures such as hydrogen and biomethane. NexMeter is now a consolidated device. The Hera Group’s development plan has led to the installation of about 300,000 meters mainly in Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Emilia-Romagna, areas classified as of high seismic risk. Thanks to its advanced features and shut off valve, the meter can detect gas leaks in the users’ homes, stop the supply in case of dangerous leaks, and alert emergency centers autonomously. To date, 70 alert cases have been recorded, 18 of which avoided serious incidents. Additionally, NexMeter’s extreme sensitivity allows the detection of even small, often hidden leaks, effectively contributing to the reduction of methane emissions into the atmosphere in homes and companies. For the Hera Group, the NexMeter is a strategic lever for reducing Scope 3 emissions as outlined in its Climate Transition Plan with a net zero target by 2050. This document, in line with the scientific community guidelines, quantifies the Group’s current and future emission impacts and illustrates both the contribution of external scenario evolution and the internal decarbonization levers the company will implement with an active stakeholder involvement. One of the most innovative aspects of Hera Group’s net zero plan is the aim to reduce emissions not only within its activities but also along the entire value chain, investing in solutions that promote energy efficiency and electrification at consumption centers. For further information Press release nexmeter_870_new.png Thanks to its advanced features in measurement and safety in case of dangerous leaks, proven performances in emission reduction and energy efficiency, the device plays an essential role in the decarbonization of consumption centers nexmeter_110.jpg

Capturing carbon dioxide emitted from the waste-to-energy plant’s chimneys and storing it in depleted natural gas fields, thereby significantly reducing plant emissions while contributing to the decarbonization of local areas. This is the goal of the pioneering project for the Ferrara plant - proposed by Hera Group, as the lead partner, in collaboration with Saipem - that has been selected to receive funding under the fourth call for mid-scale projects from the EU Innovation Fund. Once the allocation is finalized, the funding for the CO₂ emission capture project will amount to nearly €24 million. This industrial CO₂ capture project is the first of its kind in Italy designed for waste-to-energy plants and among the first in Europe. It involves the application of Bluenzyme™️, Saipem's proprietary and modular solution based on “CO₂ Solutions”, an innovative enzymatic technology for capturing carbon dioxide in industrial processes of small and medium emitters. The initiative was selected by European authorities for its high level of innovation, and its potential replicability in other waste-to-energy plants and other hard-to-abate industrial sectors in Italy, and more generally across Europe. The European Funds will cover a significant portion of the €53 million planned for the construction of the CO₂ capture plant. Depending on opportunities arising from changes in the regulatory framework, the plant is expected to be operational by 2028. The project will fully abate CO₂ emissions from the Ferrara waste-to-energy plant CO₂ capture is a crucial decarbonization tool for waste-to-energy plants, and for now, the Herambiente plant in Ferrara has been identified as the most suitable. The project will enable, in fact, the capture of approximately 90% of the emissions from one of the plant's two lines, amounting to 64 thousand tons of CO₂ per year (equivalent to the annual emissions of around 37 thousand cars), which represent the entirety of the CO₂ emitted, making the entire energy production from the waste-to-energy process sustainable. The remaining share of the CO₂ emitted by the plant is biogenic in nature and therefore environmentally neutral. The captured CO₂ will be transported via pipeline and stored in the depleted gas fields of the Northern Adriatic. The new CO₂ capture plant will ensure high standards of safety and innovation, while maximizing energy efficiency. It will be entirely green, as it will exploit renewable energy, both generated from the waste-to-energy plant itself and from geothermal heat delivered through the multiutility’s district heating network. The enzymatic capture process, with a low environmental impact, can be powered by low-temperature heat, such as geothermal heat. Further CO₂ emissions will therefore be avoided. For further information Press release sede_hera_870_rev 1 (1).png It will be the first industrial-scale example of CCS applied to a plant of this type in Italy. The project is one of the main decarbonization levers in the multi-utility's Climate Transition Plan to reduce internal emissions sede_hera_110 (2).jpg