Carbon Capture, Utilisation, Transport and Storage: NICE-Italy Strengthens Research and Opens Up Innovation to Industry

The NICE-Italy project aims to strengthen collaboration between the research community and industry, and to facilitate the transfer of innovative, advanced technological solutions to businesses. These solutions are essential for the energy transition. The project was launched in Milazzo, Sicily, with representatives from the scientific community, business sector and local authorities in attendance.

The initiative is coordinated by the OGS, which has an office in Milazzo, and it brings together the following project partners: the University of Bologna, the Politecnico di Milano, ENEA, the National Research Council (CNR), the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) and the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station.

The NICE-Italy project aims to strengthen the Italian node of ECCSEL ERIC, the European research infrastructure dedicated to CCUS (carbon capture, utilisation, transport and storage) technologies, while expanding research into new strategic areas such as geothermal energy and hydrogen. The project also aims to enhance Italy's role in developing and transferring innovative solutions to industry.

NICE-Italy promotes advanced, low-impact technologies and supports a sustainable energy transition that benefits the entire production system, fostering innovation and competitiveness among Italian businesses. Particular attention is given to southern Italy, where the project aims to bolster scientific and technological expertise and capabilities while championing emerging strategic sectors such as offshore geothermal energy and the hydrogen value chain. These are essential to ensuring a secure and efficient energy transition throughout Italy.

OGS can play a key role in this process as it represents the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) within ECCSEL ERIC and coordinates the Italian National Node. OGS also manages the ECCSEL NatLab Italy laboratories in Panarea and Latera.