Italy’s Italgas and Australian gas infrastructure company Jemena have signed a collaboration agreement aimed at sharing experiences in distribution network management, with a particular focus on technological innovation and decarbonisation, the Italian company said on March 8. 

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will collaborate and share information on digital solutions to transform gas networks into carriers and storage systems for renewable gases, such as hydrogen, biomethane and synthetic methane. They will work on developing intelligent metering solutions, with a focus on next-generation smart meters, sensors and appliances. 

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Italgas and Jemena will also work on enhancing customer experience, asset reliability and safety with particular reference to monitoring systems for the mitigation of fugitive methane emissions. 

The companies plan to develop power to gas technology as well. Both companies are at present implementing pilot projects, in the south of Sardinia and Sydney respectively. “These projects are testing how renewable gases can store surplus electricity generated from renewable sources, as well as the use of renewable gas in residential, commercial, and transport settings,” Italgas said.  

Frank Tudor, managing director of Jemena, said the announcement is good news for gas customers in both countries. 
 
“This is a great outcome for customers in both countries who want to be able to access gas - including renewable gases such as hydrogen and biomethane - both today and in the future,” said Tudor. 

Italgas and Jemena have significant natural gas infrastructure in Italy and Australia respectively. Italgas manages 73,000 km of gas pipeline infrastructure, while Jemena’s gas distribution network spans 25,000 km across New South Wales. Together, the companies deliver gas to over 9mn customers across the two countries. 

“Sharing experiences with international partners is a great opportunity and is necessary to keep growing through comparison and positive collaboration,” said Paolo Gallo, CEO of Italgas. “I am pleased that after European, American and Asian partners, this new collaboration with Jemena allows us to enter a new continent to discover innovative solutions and best practices.”