Iberdrola partners with AECOM for hydrogen rail link in Italy

MILAN, Aug.24 (Reuters) – Spanish renewable energy group Iberdrola (IBE.MC) announced on Tuesday that it is teaming up with U.S. infrastructure consultant AECOM (ACM.N) and others to plan to convert an Italian railroad running on green hydrogen.

The 300-kilometer (186-mile) rail link, which runs through four regions in central Italy, is only partially electrified and is currently used by older diesel-powered trains, Iberdrola said in a statement.

“In addition to having a significant environmental impact, (the project) aims to have significant economic and social effects,” said Lorenzo Costantini, director of Iberdrola Italy.

Iberdrola, a global leader in wind power generation, is working on several projects around the world to produce hydrogen from renewable electrolysis and supply it for a variety of uses, including heavy transport and the chemical industry.

The agreement with AECOM also includes a feasibility study to develop a hydrogen-powered rail link connecting the seaside town of San Benedetto del Tronto on the east coast of Italy to Rome.

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Reporting by Stephen Jewkes; edited by Jason Neely

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