As the plant builder and operator, Sapio has begun construction of a 5MW electrolyser at Solvay’s facility.

Meanwhile, renewable electricity from Solvay’s 10MW solar plant will be used to ensure green hydrogen production.

In total, the electrolyser is expected to produce up to 756 tonnes of the energy carrier per year.

H2 View understands that all of this capacity will be used to decarbonise peroxide production, potentially reducing the site’s CO2 emissions by up to 15%.

The project has also secured €16m ($17m) in support from the Tuscan Region under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), and will be part of the Hydrogen Valley Rosignano project.

Carlos Silveria, President of Solvay’s peroxides business, said the development marks “a key part of [Solvay’s] broader strategy to support essential industries with more sustainable solutions.”

Hydrogen peroxide is widely used as a bleaching agent for wood pulp and textiles, and in disinfection and water treatment.

Conventional production routes are energy-intensive and carbon-emitting, typically releasing around 3kg of CO2 for every kilogram of hydrogen peroxide produced.

At Solvay’s Rosignano site, green hydrogen will replace the grey hydrogen used in the anthraquinone hydrogenation step to lower overall emissions.

Evonik is pursuing a similar model to decarbonise peroxide production in the Netherlands. The company is planning to install a 50MW electrolyser with VoltH2 to supply green hydrogen to its Delfzijl plant from 2027.