A source of clean energy from sewers and wet waste: Biomethane null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null An investment of Euro 37 million. A plant that disposes of 100 thousand tonnes of organic waste produced by separate waste collection and another 35 thousand tonnes coming from green waste and pruning material. And that, once "digested", produce 7.5 million cubic meters of biomethane fuel that is 100% renewable and 20 thousand tonnes of compost. Impianto Biometano foto 1 Impianto Biometano foto 2 Impianto Biometano foto 3 Impianto Biometano foto 4 Impianto Biometano foto 5 Impianto Biometano foto 6 Impianto Biometano foto 7 Impianto Biometano foto 8 Impianto Biometano foto 9 Impianto Biometano foto 10 Impianto Biometano foto 11 Impianto Biometano foto 12 Impianto Biometano foto 13 Impianto Biometano foto 14 Impianto Biometano foto 15 null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null HERA-impianto-biometano_032__DSC9813.jpg These numbers tell the success story of our state-of-the-art plant in Sant'Agata Bolognese, just outside Bologna: the latest great and ambitious project to add to our long list of waste treatment facilities (89 in total, including waste-to-energy plants, composters, and sorting plants). With one big goal: to relaunch the challenge of renewables on an industrial scale and make this plant a reference structure for green energy in Europe. Biomethane: a clean resource of biological origin But what makes this natural gas source organic? Simply, the way to get it: not by drilling for hidden deposits in the deepest parts of the Earth but by fermenting organic waste in plants designed to do so. Biomethane can, therefore, be produced for as long as you want, it is endless, and production can be increased simply by building other plants. Making the process one of the purest examples of the circular economy. In Spilamberto, a biodigester converted into a biomethane plant An innovative plant for the production of biomethane came into operation in October 2023 in Spilamberto, in the Modena area. It was created by NewCo Biorg, the result of the partnership between the Hera Group and the Inalca company (Cremonini Group), thanks to a total investment of approximately 28 million euros and the use of the best available technologies. Starting from the separate collection of organic waste and agri-food wastewater, the plant - created from the conversion of an old biodigester - produces 3.7 million cubic meters of biomethane every year when fully operational, a 100% renewable fuel intended for transport, and approximately 18 thousand tons of compost. A cutting-edge plant for the energy transition and the circular economy The 100% renewable natural gas is produced in the plant from the anaerobic digestion of organic waste coming from the separate collection carried out mainly in Modena and its district, from the waste resulting from the manufacturing process of the local agri-food industry and from the production process of Inalca's meat. Once refined, it becomes biomethane and can be introduced into the gas network. The environmental benefits are important: around 7 thousand tonnes of CO₂ are avoided Thanks to the introduction of biomethane into the network and its use in transport, significant environmental benefits are estimated: every year the use of approximately 3 thousand tonnes of fossil fuel oil equivalent (TOE) will be saved and CO₂ emissions will be avoided for approximately 7 thousand tons. To absorb such a quantity of CO₂, an average of 280 thousand trees would be needed. What happens in our sant’agata facility Organic waste, obtained through separate waste collection, is processed by anaerobic digestion to produce biogas. How? The waste, shredded and screened, remains for about 21 days in 4 horizontal digesters, where suitable microorganisms carry out the digestion process to produce biogas (consisting of natural gas and carbon dioxide). Then the biogas is upgraded using pressurized water to dissolve the carbon dioxide and separate the natural gas. The result is biomethane, a gas with a methane content of over 95% and a completely renewable energy source. But that's not all. At the end of the digestion process, wood-cellulosic material is added to the resulting solid matter to obtain a compact mass that is sent to composting, to produce quality compost, which can be used as potting soil for vases or as a fertiliser in agriculture. Come find out more about our Sant'Agata Bolognese plant. Biomethane is, therefore, another revolution based on the circular economy, which all of us in the Hera Group want to pursue. Again, to create shared value, as Herambiente's CEO, Andrea Ramonda, is determined to emphasize: “The direction we have taken addresses the industrial world as increasingly oriented towards creating shared value and partnerships. We are aware that sustainable waste management, focused on the recovery of waste and compliant with the rules, is an essential factor in today's world, and one that delivers benefits to the entire community). The idea of the exhibition came from the photographic project commissioned in 2018 to Silvia Camporesi on the occasion of the work being done on the Sant'Agata Bolognese site. The report has been enriched with other shots, thus becoming the complete story of the development of the plant. The exhibition consists of 11 large-format photographic works which reveal where and how waste takes another form and becomes biofuel. Technology, innovation, industrial process, efficiency, circularity are the messages underlying each of the images captured by the artist. Silvia Camporesi visited the plant every month for a whole year, documenting the evolution and changes to the facility. 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Dialogue with the urban context for new energy: the Borgo Panigale cogeneration plant When going by the roundabout between Via Prati di Caprara and Via Vittorio Sabena in the Reno di Borgo Panigale neighbourhood in Bologna, it seems like you are passing next to a gigantic colourful radiator. It has the appearance of a modern work of art, but instead it is the Hera Group’s new cogeneration plant. This plant has changed the face of the entire neighbourhood since it was inaugurated in October 2017. Its characteristic element is the elliptical structure covering the stack of the plant. It consists of 576 plates of colourful porcelain stoneware arranged on multiple overlapping rings that create a combination of colours and light with the nuances typical of the city of Bologna: brick red, ochre yellow, tuff yellow, dark brown and rust. brgopanigale.jpg Hera’s undertaking for an efficient district heating system The Cogen plant, which stands in Via Paolo Nanni Costa, is not only Hera’s jewel from the architectural viewpoint - perfectly integrated with the new urban context of the neighbourhood - but is also the Group’s pride and joy from the production viewpoint. Entirely designed and built by Heratech, the engineering essence of the Hera Group, the plant produces energy in cogeneration, meaning both electricity and hot water necessary for the district heating network. Built thanks to an investment topping Euro 17 million, the plant heats the equivalent of 8000 housing units and currently the turbines produce up to 35,000 Mwh of energy a year, almost double that of the past. District heating is already in itself a “sustainable” and eco-friendly supply because it is able to guarantee greater efficiency than the traditional household boilers. What’s more is that the plant guarantees less atmospheric emissions, greater reliability and a higher availability of energy with 90% efficiency. What does all of this mean in terms of benefits for the environment? It is like planting 25,000 new trees every year. Or stopping the flow of traffic of 8000 vehicles during the same period. Technology, efficiency, reutilisation of the land The use of advanced technology and energy efficiency are therefore the cornerstones of this work, in line with Hera’s mission for sustainable development. But that’s not all. The new Cogen district heating plant made a remarkable impact also in terms of land reutilisation. Built on the site of the thermoelectric plant in operation since the 1990s, the Cogen plant allowed the plant in Via Segantini to be shut down and today only one plant is able to cover the same requirement guaranteed by the two of the past. (is it advisable to say that?) Yes, I think so This is an enormous goal that Hera has met, which sets upgrading existing facilities one of its primary objectives. If the percentage of land reutilisation was 77% in the Group Sustainability Report closed in 2019, the development of the network works and of plants presently in progress and included in the 2020-2023 Industrial Plan will allow 73% of reutilised land to be guaranteed. (data updated to 2019). The undertaking of the Hera Group for energy efficiency The Borgo Panigale Cogen plant is part of the 343 interventions forming the plans for improvement of Hera, Inrete, AcegasApsAmga and Marche Multiservizi at year-end 2019, and that will allow consumption to be cut by 13,740 Tep (-5.9% energy consumption compared to 2013), passing the target set for 2020 by -5%. (data updated to 2019). The Bologna Cogen plant in figures: 8,000 housing units served 35,000 Mwh energy produced each year Euro 17 million invested District Heating Our plants no null null

PSBO: The gentle giant that protects the sea of Rimini Keeping the sea clean and ensuring it is safe for swimming is a complex task, but not an impossible one. This is demonstrated by the Rimini Optimised Seawater Protection Plan (PSBO), the largest water sanitation project currently underway in Italy, which we have developed in collaboration with the town’s municipality, with Romagna Acque and Amir. A construction site — or rather, 14 — that is quite literally transforming the face of a town that has been the backdrop to the holidays of millions of Italian and international tourists for over 60 years. With an investment of €200 million, the project will ensure the complete bathing safety of the Rimini coastline, eliminating wastewater from all 11 sea discharges. Restoring clean, healthy and crystal-clear sea to Rimini and the surrounding area is a vital step in enhancing and creating new opportunities for the whole community. Because the sea is not just a key driver of the economy — it is the heart of our identity. psbo.jpg Piazzale Kennedy, where it all began It was beneath Piazzale Kennedy that the great works to build the gentle giant that protects the sea started. In case of a storm, the wastewater treatment plant is unable to handle such a large volume of both clear and dark waters. To prevent damage to the plant and avoid flooding, these waters are discharged into the sea without treatment. This results in a bathing ban, with an impact on the environment, health and the local economy. The PSBO prevents this thanks to a system of tanks as large as 20 Olympic swimming pools, located 40 metres below the surface. The first tank, with a capacity of 14,000 cubic metres, collects the initial rainfall, while the second, with a capacity of 25,000 cubic metres, is dedicated to regulating the flow of clean water into the sea. Thanks to a forced ventilation system, which directs the air drawn from the tanks to a treatment system using activated carbon technology, the problem of foul odours can also be permanently solved. Concealing this complex facility with its modern architecture, seamlessly integrated into the urban landscape, is the Piazzale Kennedy viewpoint, which has been open to the public since 2019. The Santa Giustina treatment plant, the heart of the PSBO Once the water has been collected in the tanks, a true journey begins beneath Piazzale Kennedy, perhaps the most important of all the activities connected to the PSBO. The tank system is linked to a pumping station with a discharge capacity of 18,000 litres per second: the Santa Giustina treatment plant. This is the heart of Rimini’s gentle giant, which transforms the water, making it, as a famous song says, “clear and blue”. Enhanced with a series of upgrades that have doubled its capacity, the plant can now treat all wastewater, both domestic and industrial, from the Rimini area and the Republic of San Marino, serving 560,000 residents during the summer season. After separating the water from sand and oils and eliminating the sewage sludge using denitrifying bacteria (organisms that feed on the substances contained in the sludge), the treatment plant makes the wastewater clear and clean through microfiltrating membranes, a cutting-edge technology that captures microscopic particles such as viruses and bacteria. The PSBO's most important works Let’s revisit the history of this ambitious project. The doubling of the Santa Giustina treatment plant, which began in 2013 and was completed in 2015, marked the true kick-off of the PSBO. Its operation, which is the heart of the entire system, was closely linked to the conversion work at the Marecchiese treatment plant, which serves to regulate the flows directed to Santa Giustina. 2014 marked the beginning of another important milestone: the start of the remodelling of the sewerage system in Rimini, which initially involved the redevelopment of Rimini Isola, and later the separation of the sewerage systems of Rimini Nord. The latter, which is scheduled to be completed in 2026, is a crucial step in the entire project, directly involving residents in the area, who are asked to connect their discharge properly to the new sewerage pipes for wastewater. At the same time, the North Dorsal project was completed in 2015, connecting the Santa Giustina treatment plant with the Bellaria plant. In 2018, the excavation work (microtunneling) for the South Dorsal was also completed: thanks to a boring machine, it was possible to lay pipes beneath natural elevations or major roads in urban areas without the need for large-scale excavation. Other works, such as the Ausa sewer collector, the Mavone overflow channel and the sewer lift in via Santa Chiara, have significantly reduced the risk of flooding in many areas of the town where this problem is recurring. Additionally, with the project to cover the Ausa Canal, which involves its artificial capping, we have optimised the water flow in the final stretch from the seafront to the sea in case of overflow discharge, creating an attractive pathway between the seafront and Piazzale Kennedy that enhances the nearby beaches. Two new viewpoints as the PSBO moves south Starting from 2025, the PSBO in Rimini will enter a new phase with the start of key works and projects. Work will begin to build two retention tanks for rainwater and initial rainfall, which are vital for managing stormwater and preventing flooding. These tanks will be located at Colonnella 2 (Piazzale Arturo Toscanini) and at the Rodella pit in Rivazzurra (Piazzale Artemisia Gentileschi). But the developments don’t end there. Above the tanks, in a fully redeveloped area, two beautiful viewpoints will be built as part of the Parco del Mare. These will offer stunning views of the sea and will integrate seamlessly into the urban environment, following the design lines of the Parco del Mare project. The results we have achieved To date, construction works are 90% complete and they have already freed 8,000 metres of coastline from bathing restrictions, a figure that will rise to 12,000 metres upon completion. Through sifting and storage treatments, over 20,000 cubic metres of sand have also been recovered for beach replenishment. This operation, which could be described as a true “nourishment” of the beaches through the addition of new sand, helps counteract coastal erosion, following the principles of the circular economy. These achievements, along with all the other planned interventions, have led the PSBO to be cited in the United Nations report “SDG Industry Matrix: Energy, Natural Resources and Chemicals” (2017) as a best practice related to the sustainable development goals of the 2030 UN Agenda. Heratech no

The Imola cogeneration plant: state-of-the-art technology for the local area What do the Town Hall and the Municipal Library of Imola have in common, but also the theatres, the old and the new hospital, the Alberghetti Technical Institute, and the municipal swimming pool? They are all connected to the district heating network served by the Imola Cogeneration Plant, the pride and joy of the Hera Group. An extremely cutting-edge project that in 2019 celebrated the tenth anniversary of its foundation, confirming it is one of the most innovative and efficient plants in Italy. centrale cogenerazione cogen (1).jpg Let's take a step back. What is cogeneration? It is the combined production of multiple forms of secondary energy, such as electricity or heat, within a single integrated system powered by a single primary energy source, which can be fossil or renewable. This process can save around 40% of energy compared to the production of electricity and heat separately in conventional power plants. The Imola cogeneration plant, housed on a site of over 5 thousand m2, is perfectly integrated into its surrounding landscape. It is powered by natural gas and has an electrical power of 80 MWe, almost enough to satisfy the Imola area's entire annual electricity demand. With a thermal capacity of 65 MWt, it can support both the current peak loads required by the district heating network and the basic thermal load expected with future connections. Moreover, since it can operate "as an island", the power station can continue to supply electricity to almost all the users connected to the Italian grid even in the event of a power blackout, making Imola and its district perfectly self-sufficient. In 2019, the Imola cogeneration plant produced 257,900 MWh of electricity and 118,785 MWh of thermal energy. The plant provides high performance from both the production and the environmental points of view, combining low levels of atmospheric emissions with significant energy savings. We have achieved many goals in recent years, but we are not going to stop: in 2020, in fact, we are working to reduce the power plant's water consumption further.