Press releases

Consolidated first quarter report shows growth in all operational-financial indicators and a positive contribution coming from all business areas, alongside continuing improvement in net debt. Financial highlights Revenues at € 1,585.5 million (+28.3%) EBITDA at € 306.8 million (+10.2%) Net profits for Shareholders at € 109.9 million (+20.5%) Net debt at € 2,548.7 million Operational highlights Good contribution to growth coming from all businesses, especially the energy sales area Solid customer base in the energy sectors, increasing to roughly 2.3 million customers Management geared towards creating efficiencies and synergies Net debt shows further improvement during the quarter, in spite of the recent acquisitions of Aliplast and Teseco Today, the Hera Group’s new Board of Directors, appointed on 27 April 2017, unanimously approved the consolidated first quarter results, which confirm a rising trend in all main indicators. These positive results were supported by the organic growth ensuing from market expansion, which involved recently awarded tenders for default gas and safeguarded electricity services. Efficiencies and synergies were simultaneously pursued, alongside M&A activities concerning above all acquisitions in the energy area carried out in 2016 (Julia Servizi and Gran Sasso), with the contribution coming from Teseco and Aliplast not yet recorded. Revenues reach almost € 1.6 billion In the first quarter of 2017, revenues amounted to € 1,585.5 million, with a sharp increase over the € 1,235.4 seen in the same period of 2016. This result reflects, in addition to a change in the assignment of general system charges introduced by current regulations, a larger amount of trading, higher regulated revenues in water services and the electricity area, and increased volumes of gas sold owing to climatic factors. EBITDA rises to € 306.8 million EBITDA passed from € 278.4 million in the first three months of 2016 to € 306.8 million at 31 March 2017, recording a growth of over € 28 million (+10.2%). This growth is accounted for by the good performances seen in all Group areas, in particular in the energy areas. These results were also influenced by the acquisitions made during 2016. Operational results and pre-tax profits up, financial management improves Operating profits at 31 March 2017 came to € 187.3 million, up over the € 170.8 million seen in the same period of 2016 (+9.7%). Financial management improved by € 2.6 million, amounting to € 23.1 million at the end of the first quarter, thanks to a good contribution coming from affiliated companies and higher income from safeguarded customers. In light of this, pre-tax profits went from € 145.1 million in the first quarter of 2016 to € 164.2 million in the same period in 2017, showing a further increase in the rate of growth (+13.2%). Net profits for Shareholders grow, reaching roughly € 110 million (+20.5%) Profits pertaining to Group Shareholders at 31 March 2017 rose to € 109.9 million, up 20.5% compared to the € 91.2 million seen in 2016. A considerable improvement in the tax rate was among the factors responsible, going from 33.3% to 29.8% (thanks to a decrease in the Ires rate, benefits ensuing from the application of the “patent box” and tax credits for research and development, as well as tax breaks for maxi amortisations). Over € 150 million in investments and a slight improvement in net debt, in spite of recent acquisitions In the first three months of 2017, Group investments amounted to € 154.1 million, including the acquisition of a financial holding in the Aliplast Group and the plant branch of Teseco, without which the amount is in line with the same period in 2016 (€ 68.5 million). Operating investments mainly concerned interventions on plants, networks and infrastructures, to which one must add regulatory upgrading above all in the gas area, involving a large-scale meter substitution, and the purification and sewerage areas. Net debt settled at € 2,548.7 million, with a slight drop compared to the € 2,558.9 million recorded at 31 December 2016, thanks to the positive and rising cash flow generation which allowed, among other things, the recent acquisitions to be financed. The net debt/EBITDA ratio, calculated on a rolling 12-month basis, therefore settled at 2.7, highlighting an improvement in financial solidity. Gas The gas area, which includes services in natural gas and LPG distribution and sales, district heating and heat management, recorded an EBITDA that settled at € 135.6 million in the first quarter of 2017, increasing over the € 130.3 million seen at 31 March 2016 (+4.1%) thanks to higher volumes of gas sold and the wider scope of the service offered. The number of gas customers rose to almost 1.4 million, up 4.2% over the same period in 2016, thanks to commercial actions, the new portions of the default service awarded and the two acquisitions recently carried out in Abruzzo (Julia Servizi and Gran Sasso). The gas area accounted for 44.2% of Group EBITDA. Water cycle EBITDA for the integrated water cycle area, which includes aqueduct, purification and sewerage services, went from € 49.8 million in the first quarter of 2016 to € 53.3 million in the first three months of 2017 (+6.9%), thanks in particular to higher revenues from delivery. A premium for service quality also contributed to the results, granted by the regulatory authorities based on the current tariffary method. The integrated water cycle area accounted for 17.4% of Group EBITDA. Waste The waste area, which includes waste collection, treatment and disposal services, recorded an EBITDA which went from € 62.4 million in the first quarter of 2016 to € 64.0 at 31 March 2017 (+2.6%). This trend is explained by both the good performances in the urban hygiene sector and the higher volumes of market waste treated. The operational status of the Ravenna and Imola plants in the first quarter of 2017, indeed, allowed free market activities to increase by roughly 8%. These good results were able to more than offset the impact of the end of incentives for renewables, largely linked to a WTE plant in the Molise reagion (roughly -3 million). As regards the company Aliplast, instead, given that the acquisition was formally concluded on 3 April 2017, it will contribute to the Group’s half-year results. Good results were seen in the area of sorted waste as well, which rose to 57.5%, compared to the 56.2% seen in the first three months of 2016, thanks to the wide range of projects implemented across all areas served. The waste area accounted for 20.9% of Group EBITDA. Electricity EBITDA for the electricity area, which includes services in electricity production, distribution and sales, rose from € 31.6 million in the first quarter of 2016 to € 48.4 million at 31 March 2017 (+53.2%), thanks above all to a higher amount of sales on the free market and the safeguarded market, as well as profits in electricity production. In this area, furthermore, the number of customers increased to over 900,000 (+5.6% compared to Q1 2016), thanks among other things to reinforced commercial action and the acquisition of customers from the Abruzzo companies. The electricity area accounted for 15.8% of Group EBITDA. The manager responsible for drafting the company’s accounting statements, Luca Moroni, declares, pursuant to article 154-bis paragraph 2 of the TUF, that the information contained in the present press release corresponds to the documentation available and to the account books and entries. The interim management report and related materials will be available to the public at Company Headquarters and on the website www.gruppohera.it. Unaudited extracts from the Interim Financial Statements at 31 March 2017 are attached. PROFIT & LOSS (M€) 31/03/2017 INC% 31/03/2016 INC.% CH. CH. % Sales 1,585.5 1,235.4 +350.1 +28.3% Other operating revenues 82.1 5.2% 73.7 6.0% +8.4 +11.4% Raw material (732.2) -46.2% (608.5) -49.3% +123.7 +20.3% Services costs (488.8) -30.8% (281.7) -22.8% +207.1 +73.5% Other operating expenses (12.0) -0.8% (12.1) -1.0% -0.1 -0.8% Personnel costs (137.2) -8.7% (132.9) -10.8% +4.3 +3.2% Capitalisations 9.4 0.6% 4.6 0.4% +4.8 +104.8% Ebitda 306.8 19.4% 278.4 22.5% +28.4 +10.2% Depreciation and provisions (119.5) -7.5% (107.6) -8.7% +11.9 +11.1% Ebit 187.3 11.8% 170.8 13.8% +16.5 +9.7% Financial inc./(exp.) (23.1) -1.5% (25.7) -2.1% -2.6 -10.1% Pre tax profit 164.2 10.4% 145.1 11.7% +19.1 +13.2% Tax (48.9) -3.1% (48.4) -3.9% +0.5 +1.0% Net profit 115.3 7.3% 96.8 7.8% +18.5 +19.1% Attributable to: Shareholders of the Parent Company Minority shareholders 109.9 5.4 6.9% 0.3% 91.2 5.6 7.4% 0.5% +18.7 -0.2 +20.5% -3.5% Balance Sheet (m€) 31/03/2017 Inc% 31/12/2016 Inc.% Ch. Ch. % Net fixed assets 5,663.7 108.3% 5,564.5 108.7% +99.2 +1.8% Working capital 121.6 2.3% 99.9 2.0% +21.7 +21.7% (Provisions) (553.8) (10.6%) (543.4) (10.7%) (10.4) +1.9% Net invested capital 5,231.5 100.0% 5,121.0 100.0% +110.5 +2.2% Net equity 2,682.8 51.3% 2,562.1 50.0% +120.7 +4.7% Long term net financial debt 2,757.3 52.7% 2,757.5 53.9% (0.2) +0.0% Short term net financial debt (208.6) (4.0%) (198.6) (3.9%) (10.0) +5.0% Net financial debts 2,548.7 48.7% 2,558.9 50.0% (10.2) (0.4%) Net invested capital 5,231.5 100.0% 5,121.0 100.0% +110.5 +2.2% 1Q2017_870x320_slide_cs_eng.1494421957.jpg /documents/1514726/4210734/Hera_Group_results_Q1_2017_press_release_eng.1494410523.pdf/3713601c-8f09-8369-a2e5-045adf56a534?t=1597908152844 Press release /documents/1514726/4210734/Hera_Group_Consolidate_quarterly_report_as_at_31_march_2017.1494411806.pdf/431600c0-8838-3de5-7c9a-80eacf5f0884?t=1597908154820 Financial results as at 31 March 2017 /documents/1514726/4210734/Dati_finanziari_ed_operativi_di_sintesi_1Q_2017_eng.1494320025.xls/5c33e18f-6c76-66b0-43fa-a1bd7751036f?t=1597908153470 Financial data as at 31 March 2017 /documents/1514726/4210734/Gruppo_Hera_analyst_presentation_1Q_2017.1494415801.pdf/1a3371da-9a8c-9e33-239d-848a35ba9376?t=1597908154221 Analyst presentation: financial results as at 31 March 2017 /documents/1514726/4880888/Hera+Group+1Q2017+results.mp3/6869f81d-d527-2659-bc36-57be606584de?t=1610038315841 Audioconference: financial results as at 31 March 2017 /group_eng/investor-relations/results-and-presentations/archive/financial-benchmark Benchmark of consolidated results /documents/1514726/4210734/Hera_Group_Newsletter_Q1_2017_eng.1494402651.pdf/a7f8511a-3667-8939-9631-07f3357634fe?t=1597908153812 Newsletter: financial results as at 31 March 2017 2017-05-10 14:11:53 Risultati finanziari 2017-05-08

In a meeting held today, Hera S.p.A.'s Board of Directors assessed the independence of its own members, appointed by the Shareholders Meeting convened for 27 April 2017. Based on statements provided by the Directors and the information available to the Company, all directors, with the exception of the Chairman and the CEO, proved to possess the independence requisites specified by principle 3.C.1 of the Code of Conduct and by article 148 paragraph 3 of Legislative Decree 58/1998. Furthermore note that the Board of Statutory Auditors, in compliance with Art. 8.C.1 of the Code of Conduct, has verified that all its members possess the independence requisites and has communicated the results of these verifications to the Board of Directors. The members of the Internal Committees were moreover appointed. For the "Executive Committee", Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, acting as Chairman, Giovanni Basile, acting as Vice Chairman, Stefano Venier and Federica Seganti were appointed; for the "Remuneration Committee", Giovanni Basile, acting as Chairman, Francesca Fiore, Massimo Giusti and Stefano Manara were appointed; for the "Control and Risk Committee" (which also corresponds to the Committee for Operations with Related Parties), Giovanni Basile, acting as President, Erwin Paul Walter Rauhe, Duccio Regoli and Sara Lorenzon were appointed. Comunicato_valutazione_indipendenza_10_05_2017_eng.1494425047.pdf 2017-05-10 16:07:48 Hera Spa 2017-05-10

Free and open to all, the exhibition of artwork produced using waste materials can be visited from 5 to 21 May in the halls of Palazzo Rasponi. The Hera Group project, carried out in collaboration with the Academies of Fine Arts of Bologna and Florence, also provides educational workshops for children [block]div:row-fluid::db:hr_press_comunicazione::box:64[/block] There are portraits of famous people and sculptures of animals. But above all, they are works of art made by means of reuse of waste materials destined for disposal. Precisely for this reason, they are part of "Scart: the Beautiful, Useful Side of Waste", a travelling exhibition that hosts the work of students from the Academies of Fine Arts of Bologna and Florence. Created in collaboration with Waste Recycling, a Herambiente Group company, the exhibition is free and open to all; its first stop is in Ravenna. Exhibited at Palazzo Rasponi from 5 to 21 May, it can be visited from 4 pm to 7 pm every day except Mondays. In the coming months the exhibition will stop in the cities of Imola and Modena. Accompanied by a catalogue curated by art critic and former director of the Museum of the City of Ravenna, Claudio Spadoni, the Scart exhibition is addressed to a wide audience, particularly children, with various educational and creative workshops offered on Saturdays 6, 13 and 20 May, also provided free of charge. Thanks to these workshops, children will be involved in various creative activities which encourage thought about environmental issues, focusing on problems and approaching the possible solutions through recycling and reuse. Adults can instead "lose themselves" among the exhibition's halls, and be surprised by the thousands of forms that matter can take on when it passes through the regenerating power of art. The faces of Lucio Dalla, Marilyn Monroe, Frida Kahlo, Mother Teresa, David Bowie and still others will share the stage with more sculptural works depicting various animals which, in Spadoni's words, make up "a heterogeneous bestiary of fun, in some cases carefree, with Dadaist-Surrealist tones". The Hera Group thereby continues the Scart tradition: the project was originally organized by Maurizio Giani, CEO of Waste Recycling, over 18 years ago to positively affect the mentality towards recycling and reuse, precisely through art. An integral part of the multi-utility company's daily commitment to circular economy, Scart faces these challenges in an absolutely innovative fashion, undertaking a new path toward a type of reuse and recycling that recognizes an increasing value in waste, giving it unlimited life and transforming it from a cost into a resource. "We are very pleased that a local company as important as Hera - says the Councillor for Cultural Activities of the Municipality of Ravenna, Elsa Signorino, - interprets the sense of their own work with this spirit, contributing to consolidating a culture of sustainability through art which, together with our citizens, we wholeheartedly support. Additionally, our relationship with Hera in Ravenna has always been oriented to the promotion of many cultural initiatives, and it is wonderful that a multi-utility company leverages the profile of its territorial roots in this way, in the interest of the community and in cooperation with the municipal administration". "Art is not a side-effect of matter - says Tomaso Tommasi of Vignano, Executive President of the Hera Group - but constitutes regeneration that can inspire all other regenerations which the circular economy that Hera works towards every day is based on, through people, means, processes and facilities. In this sense, the Scart project expresses important values that touch the heart of our mission. We are therefore very pleased - concludes Tommasi - to have created an exhibition which, in addition to highlighting the important collaboration with the students of Art Academies, is also worthy because it brings the fruit of their work to various cities touched by our services, in an attempt to initiate, so to speak, the virtuous contagion of ideas and emotions". Press_Release.1494506875.pdf 2017-05-04 19:11:26 2017-05-08

Number of directors passes from 14 to 15, with an additional member representing minority shareholders. Increased presence of women in the Board of Directors and the Board of Statutory Auditors. Renewal of the Board of Directors, with an additional director representing minority shareholders Furthermore, the Board of Directors was renewed for the upcoming three years (in office until the Meeting held to approve the financial statements for 2019), with its components passing from the previous 14 to the current 15 members, with an additional director representing minority shareholders. This came about in implementation of the amendment of the Articles of Association (approved by the Shareholders Meeting held on 28 April 2015) calling for an increase, as of 2017, of the number of current members of the Board of Directors from 14 to 15, 4 of whom (instead of 3) to be elected from the lists presented by minority shareholders. As per the outcome of the voting, the following have been appointed to the Board of Directors: Majority list (representing Hera's public shareholders' Agreement): Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Stefano Venier, and the independent directors Giovanni Basile, Giorgia Gagliardi, Stefano Manara, Danilo Manfredi, Giovanni Xilo, Sara Lorenzon, Marina Vignola, Aldo Luciano, Federica Seganti. Minority list: the independent directors Massimo Giusti, Erwin Paul Walter Rauhe, Francesca Fiore, Duccio Regoli. Renewal of the Board of Statutory Auditors As regards the Board of Statutory Auditors, the following were appointed: Majority list (representing Hera's public shareholders' Agreement): Marianna Girolomini, Antonio Gaiani (standing auditors), Valeria Bortolotti (alternate auditor). Minority list: Myriam Amato(President), Stefano Gnocchi (alternate auditor) Increased presence of women in the Board of Directors and the Board of Statutory Auditors The composition of the Group's corporate bodies fully implements the provisions contained in Law no. 120 of July 12, 2011 (already transposed into Hera's Articles of Association by the 2013 Shareholders Meeting), which introduced the principle of gender balance in the corporate positions of listed companies. To this end, the law foresees that the breakdown of directors and statutory auditors to be elected be reached in such a manner that the least represented gender obtains at least one third of the members of the Board of Directors and of the Board of Statutory Auditors. The presence of women thus comes to 5 out of the 15 members of the Board of Directors and 2 out of the 3 standing members of the Board of Statutory Auditors. Other resolutions approved The Meeting approved the renewal of its authorisation for the Board of Directors to purchase treasury shares (and arrangements for their disposal), for a maximum amount of € 180 million over 18 months. This authorisation renewal was requested to pursue the aims allowed by current regulations and accepted market practices, including investment opportunities involving the use of treasury shares to increase the creation of value and any acquisitions of holdings that also involve equity trading. The Meeting furthermore confirmed remuneration policies for members of the Board of Directors, maintaining unchanged the amount due. Lastly, the reports on corporate governance was put to the Meeting's attention, which contains a few changes in line with international best practices. Hera top management confirmed The session dedicated to the assignment of Hera's Board of Directors, appointed this morning by the multi-utility's Shareholders Meeting, was held this afternoon in Bologna. The Board appointed the Chairman, the Vice Chairman and the CEO. Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano was confirmed as Hera's Chairman, acting as executive administrator. Born in Brescia, he has been guiding the Hera Group since it was created in 2002, after accumulating at length experience in telecommunications and in the utility sector. Giovanni Basile was confirmed as Hera's (non-executive) Vice Chairman. He has held this office since 2014. Born in Modena, a licensed accountant and auditor, he is a board member and statutory auditor of a number of companies and non-profit organisations in Italy and abroad. Stefano Venier was confirmed as CEO. Born in Udine, he has been part of Hera since 2004, previously holding the position of Development and Market General Director. Prior to that, Venier held positions with increasing responsibility in the Eni Group and at a leading international consulting firm, in which he acted, between 2002 and 2004, as Vice President for Energy & Utilities. Continuity in corporate governance policies has therefore been reaffirmed as one of the Hera Group's main strengths, as shown by a study by Kepler Cheuvreux dating to 14 February 2017 of the four local utilities, in which Hera was positively evaluated thanks to no other than its stable governance and management credibility, along with its solid foundations, low-risk growth strategy, future growth opportunities and attractive dividend policy. video_azionisti_870x320_2017_eng_1499701045.1533221082.jpg 2017 Annual Shareholders' Meeting - Welcome to the shareholders - Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano Executive Chairman - Gruppo Hera https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsxyokCvJ_g=0#prettyPhoto Gruppo_Hera_pressrelease_eng_cda.1493301306.pdf 2017-04-27 15:53:16 2017-04-27

Hera informs that documents listed below, related to the 27 April 2017 AGM, are available at the Company's headquarter, on line (www.gruppohera.it) and on the authorized archive system 1 Info www.1info.it. Lists of candidates for the office of member of the Board of Directors Lists of candidates for the office of Company Auditors riunione.1501227958.jpg Press_release_Hera_AGM.1491408311.pdf 2017-04-06 15:01:00 Publication of documents related to the AGM of 27 April 2017 Publication of documents related to the AGM of 27 April 2017 2017-04-05

Hera informs that consolidated and separated financial results as at 31/12/2016, approved by the B.o.D. are available at the Company's headquarter, on line www.gruppohera.it and on the authorized archive system 1 Info www.1info.it. Also available the report on item 2 of the AGM (ordinary part). avviso_pubblicazione_e_stoccagio_bilancio_ENG.1491317653.pdf 2017-04-05 15:38:00 Hera Spa Publication of consolidated and separated financial results as at 31/12/2016 2017-04-04

Herambiente's purchase of the first 40% of shares of the Treviso-based company, a national leader in plastic recycling, was completed today. A further 40% will be purchased within March 2018 and the remaining 20% within June 2022. The acquisition by Herambiente, a Hera Group company and national leader in waste treatment and recovery, of 40% of shares in Aliplast, a widely recognised protagonist in the sector of plastic waste collection and subsequent regeneration, was brought to completion in Bologna today. A further 40% of the company's shares will be acquired within March 2018, and the remaining 20% within June 2022. The overall amount involved in purchasing 40% of Aliplast comes to roughly € 35.4 million, to which one must add a further € 1.2 million for receiving, in 2014, a contribution as an energy consuming enterprise. The purchase was carried out using the Group's own resources. This important operation, complementary to the ones involving Waste Recycling (Castelfranco di Sotto, Pisa) and the environmental assets of Geo Nova (Treviso) in late 2015, as well the more recent acquisition of Teseco (Pisa) plants, is part of the path towards enlarging the Hera Group's consolidated scope, pursued as of some years, and is in line with the Group's strategy of geographical expansion and integration. Thanks to the acquisition of Aliplast, alongside the recent announcement of the beginning of works on the first biomethane production plant, in the area surrounding Bologna, the Hera Group has consolidated its position as a leader in furthering the principles of a circular economy, in which waste is transformed into resources. Suffice it to recall that even in 2016, without the contribution coming from these plants, Hera recycled 64% of packaging products, compared to the 65% set as an objective for 2025, and recovered over 94% of sorted waste. Established in 1982 by Roberto Alibardi and based in Ospedaletto di Istrana (Treviso), Aliplast is a national leader in plastic industrial waste collection and regenerated polymer recycling and producing, with over 80,000 tonnes of plastic materials recycled every year. It was the first enterprise in Italy to fully integrate the entire life cycle of plastic, from environmental services in managing and collecting industrial residues and packaging to production and market sales of manufactured goods and packaging materials, produced with plastic recycled by the company itself. Over 300 employees work in Aliplast's five plants in Italy and three abroad (Spain, France and Poland). "We are very satisfied with this signing - states Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group - which represents an important step towards the complete acquisition of Aliplast. With this operation, we have given new momentum to our long-standing commitment to a circular economy, giving full value to a company that was a pioneer in Italy, offering many lessons and acting ahead of its time. The future - Tommasi continues - must be shaped by bringing to fruition the most outstanding experiences in our own tradition. This will contribute to further growth and allow us to continue overcoming, together, to the benefit of the Group and the areas served, the challenges in sustainability and innovation that await us." "Today is an important day for Aliplast - adds Roberto Alibardi, Administrator and principal shareholder of Aliplast. Now that we have concretely become part of the Hera Group, a new era has indeed opened up, in which the know-how developed by Aliplast will be given further value and expanded, working in the interests of our present and future clients. We will continue working within the company, therefore, to favour the process of integration and formulate the type of managerial contribution that is most appropriate in pursuing the industrial objectives we share with our new partner, together with whom we are eager to achieve new goals." 870_Aliplast.1501171633.jpg Hera Group: first step in Aliplast acquisition completed http://ha.gruppohera.it/ Herambiente 03.04.2017_press_release_first_step_in_aliplast_acquisition_completed.1491298540.pdf 2017-04-03 13:12:00 Hera Group: first step in Aliplast acquisition completed Hera Group: first step in Aliplast acquisition completed 2016-04-05

A virtuous circle that begins with families and returns to citizens, made possible by the new plant that Hera will create in S. Agata Bolognese within 2018, the first multi-utility in Italy to do so. A € 30 million investment, it will lead to the annual production, at full capacity, of 20,000 tonnes of high-quality natural fertiliser and 7.5 million m3 of biomethane, a 100% renewable combustible, improving the carbon footprint of the Group and the area in which it operates. A converted and fully modernised plant With this conversion and modernisation project, work will be done on an already existing site which has hosted for many years a working plant authorised for higher quantities than those now foreseen at full capacity (going from 150,000 to 135,000 tonnes per year, with an ensuing reduction in vehicle traffic) and that will exclusively process sorted waste. Previously, non-sorted waste was taken to the site to be treated and disposed of in the neighbouring landfill. Once the latter's capacity was filled, Herambiente, pursuing the objectives of a circular economy, chose not to expand it, even though authorisation had already been obtained and the project included in provincial planning. The new plant's machinery and operations will be located indoors, minimizing the impact of noise and odours. The air treatment system of the current composting plant is also scheduled to be upgraded, to reduce the odours coming from the phase in which the materials are processed. Composting will take place in cells, constructed inside the plant's buildings, closed and aspirated one by one. The exhausted air drawn out will go through a deodorisation system consisting of biofilters and a water washing unit (scrubber), a technology already used in Northern Europe in similar plants. A filter room, called a foretrough, will furthermore be created, in the area where the waste is transferred and stored, whose function will be to provide further isolation for the area in which waste coming in from the environment is unloaded and stored. Therefore, no combustion plants are foreseen. An innovative solution, and a benchmark for the Italian market The technologies used in the plant are the fruit of research, studies and European competitions that have led Hera to choose the best of what is now available on the market. The project is already becoming a benchmark for the Italian market and will undoubtedly act as a reference point for the entire country. Bearing in mind that new national legislation is expected within next summer, which will promote this type of plant as a source of renewable energy above all by encouraging biomethane production for use in automobiles, further impetus will certainly be added to projects such as this. "Environmental sustainability and a circular economy are two of the main areas on which Hera's innovative policies are focused, with the objective of valorising, and drawing the greatest benefit from, waste and refuse", comments Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group. "This is why we are working on various projects, the most important of which is the S. Agata Bolognese biomethane plant, which also represents a concrete answer to needs such as treating the increasing volumes of sorted waste and contributing to improving both air quality and the carbon footprint. The project respects the guidelines contained in the European commission's "Clean energy for all" package, concerning both energy efficiency, reducing consumption of fossil sources, and second-generation bio-carburant production, including biomethane, coming from waste instead of farmed products. Furthermore, we are already looking into new and innovative processes to valorise other areas of production, such as purification sludge and prunings, to obtain new-generation combustibles". santagata_biometano_infografica_eng_opt.1501172262.png http://ha.gruppohera.it/news/biomethanehera ha.gruppohera.it/news/biomethanehera press_release_biomethane_28032017.1490712750.pdf 2017-03-28 16:26:00 From sorted organic waste to biomethane From sorted organic waste to biomethane 2016-04-05