Optimising Italian Electricity and Gas Sector Coupling in a 2030 Decarbonized Energy System

Power-to-X (PtX) technology is the production of hydrogen by electrolysis and, from this, of other gaseous fuels such as biomethane. In decarbonized energy systems, PtX plants can convert excess renewable energy production into gas that can either be injected into the gas grid, stored temporarily, or used to meet gas demand from other sectors, such as transportation. Due to its flexibility, PtX technology is expected to contribute to the integration of large shares of renewable energy into energy systems. Given the relevance of PtX plants for decarbonized energy systems, this paper provides a comprehensive formulation for the operational planning of integrated systems with bidirectional energy conversion. We then focus on the Italian energy system and present results on the challenges for Italy in exploring decarbonization pathways.