Alberto Giaconia

ENEA researcher since 2004, Department of Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources, where he carries out scientific research and coordination of projects in the fields of concentrated solar power and the production of hydrogen and renewable fuels in general. The research activity has produced nine industrial invention patents and dozens of publications in journals with Impact Factor.

He has created and coordinated highly relevant research projects both at a national and European level, with the development of demonstration prototypes from laboratory to pilot and pre-commercial scale.

He is a member of international scientific committees for the development and diffusion of green hydrogen technologies within the Technology Collaboration Programs (TCPs) of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Mission Innovation, IPCEI and the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance .

Educational path and scientific qualifications

National Scientific Qualification for University Teaching as a Second Level Professor awarded by the Ministry of University and Research in the Scientific Disciplinary Sector 09/D3 “Chemical Industrial Plants and Processes” (2021).

PhD in Chemical Technologies and New Materials, XVI Cycle (2001-2004).

2nd level degree (old system) in Chemical Engineering at the University of Palermo (2000). Degree grade: 110/110 with honors.

Professional and research assignments

Since December 2021, ENEA researcher in the Energy Production, Storage and Use Division (PSU), Energy Storage, Batteries and Technologies for the Production and Use of Hydrogen Laboratory (ABI).

From 2004 to 2021 ENEA researcher in the Solar Thermal, Thermodynamic and Smart Network Division (STSN), Solar Technologies Engineering Laboratory (ITES).

Coordination of research projects

Coordinator of the EU PROMETEO Project “Hydrogen PROduction by MEans of solar heat and power in high TEmperature Solid Oxide Electrolysers” (2021-2024, Horizon 2020).

Coordinator of the National Project “Solar Thermodynamics” (2019-2021) in the Electric System Research Plan (RSE).

Coordinator of the EU MATS Project “Multipurpose Applications by Thermodynamic Solar” (2011-2018, 7th Framework Programme).

Coordinator of the EUCoMETHy Project “Compact Multifuel-Energy To Hydrogen converter” (2011-2015, 7th Framework Programme).

Representation in International Scientific Committees

Coordination of activities related to Italy's membership in the "Clean Hydrogen Mission" within Mission Innovation 2.0 (from December 2021).

Member of the IPCEI (Important Project of Common European Interest) Coordination Task Force for the launch of projects in the hydrogen value chain (since January 2021).

Member of the Executive Committee of the IEA Hydrogen TCP (since 2017).

National Representative in the Working Group of Task II “Solar Chemistry Research” of the IEA TCP SolarPACES (since 2015).

Academic and training assignments

Lecture “Solar heat/power for industrial processes” at the “Winter School on Process Decarbonization and Energy Transition” organized by GRICU in collaboration with AIDIC (October 2022).

Member of the Organizing Committee of the “Hydrogen Summer School” at ENEA (21-23 September 2022).

Organization and lectures at the “Summer School for New and Renewable Energy”, Cairo (Egypt) (6-11 July 2019).

Teaching activity and organization of the training course “Multi-generation concentrated solar power plants” at the ARCA Consortium in Palermo (June 2015).

Tutor, speaker and co-speaker of numerous degree theses (since 2009).

Lectures on “Hydrogen production from alternative sources” at the Chemical Engineering Department of the University of Palermo (May 2008).

Lecture “Hydrogen Production through Thermochemical Cycles”, at ENEA in the “Master’s Degree in Economics and Engineering of Renewable Energy” (May 2008).

Lecture entitled “Thermodynamic Solar Energy”, held in the Master's Degree at the University of Palermo (April-May 2008).

Lecture “Hydrogen from Solar”, at ENEA in the Master “Urban and Domestic Environment” of La Sapienza University (October 2006, October 2007).

Lecture “Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier”, at the University of Palermo, within the Industrial Chemistry teaching module (January 2006).

External Examiner for PhD theses at theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma (PhD in “Science and Engineering for Humans and the Environment”, 2021), University of Saskatchewan (Canada, Chemical and Biological Engineering, 2015), University of Sheffield (UK, Chemical & Biological Engineering, 2013).

R. Bleta, B. Schiavo, N. Corsaro, P. Costa, A. Giaconia, L. Interrante, E. Monflier, G. Pipitone, A. Ponchel, S. Sau, O. Scialdone, S. Tilloy, A. Galia. “Robust Mesoporous CoMo/γ-Al2O3 Catalysts from Cyclodextrin-Based Supramolecular Assemblies for Hydrothermal Processing of Microalgae: Effect of the Preparation Method”, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2018, vol.10, pages. 12562−12579.

MH Ahmed, A. Giaconia, AM-A. Amin. “Mathematical Modeling for the Thermal Performance of a Solar Parabolic Trough Concentrator (PTC) Under Egyptian Climate”, International Journal of Thermal & Environmental Engineering, 2018, vol. 17, pages. 51-58.

G. Caputo, I. Balog, A. Giaconia, S. Sau, A. Pozio. “Experimental Study for HIx Concentration by Electro-Electrodialysis (EED) Cells in the Water Splitting Sulfur-Iodine Thermochemical Cycle”, ChemEngineering 2019, vol.3, issue 2, p.50.

A. Giaconia, G. Iaquaniello, A. Amin Metwally, G. Caputo, I. Balog. “Experimental demonstration and analysis of a CSP plant with molten salt heat transfer fluid in parabolic troughs”. Solar Energy. 2020, vol.211, p. 622–632.

A. Giaconia, G. Iaquaniello, G. Caputo, B. Morico, A. Salladini, L. Turchetti, G. Monteleone, A. Giannini, E. Palo. “Experimental validation of a pilot membrane reactor for hydrogen production by solar steam reforming of methane at maximum 550°C using molten salts as heat transfer fluid”, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2020, vol.45, p. 33088–33101.

A. Giaconia, G. Caputo, L. Turchetti, A. Giannini, G. Monteleone, G. Iaquaniello, B. Morico, A. Salladini, E. Palo: “Hydrogen recovery by membrane technology”, book chapter (Chapter 13) in “Current Trends and Future Developments on (Bio-) Membranes – New Perspectives on Hydrogen Production, Separation, and Utilization”, Edited by: Adolfo Iulianelli and Angelo Basile. Elsevier Inc, 2020.

M. De Falco, G. Santoro, M. Capocelli, G. Caputo, A. Giaconia. “Hydrogen production by solar steam methane reforming with molten salts as energy carriers: Experimental and modeling analysis”, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2021, vol.46, p. 10682–10696.

A. Giaconia, R. Grena. “A model of integration between PV and thermal CSP technologies”. Solar Energy. 2021, vol.224, p. 149–159.

A. Giaconia, G. Iaquaniello, B. Morico, A. Salladini, E. Palo. “Techno-economic assessment of solar steam reforming of methane in a membrane reactor using molten salts as heat transfer fluid”. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2021, vol.46, p. 35172–35188.

A. Giaconia, A. C. Tizzoni, S. Sau, N. Corsaro, E. Mansi, A. Spadoni, T. Delise. “Assessment and Perspectives of Heat Transfer Fluids for CSP Applications”. Energies. 2021, vol.14, 7486.

A. Giaconia, I. Balog, G. Caputo. “Hybridization of CSP Plants: Characterization of a Molten Salt Heater for Binary and Ternary Nitrate Salt Mixtures Fueled with Gas/Biogas Heaters.” Energies. 2021, vol.14, 7652.

A. Giaconia, M. Della Pietra, G. Monteleone, G. Nigliaccio: “Development perspective for green hydrogen production”, book chapter (Chapter 5) in “Hydrogen Production and Energy Transition, Volume 1”, Edited by Marcel Van de Voorde. De Gruyter, 2021.

L. Pilotti, M. Colombari, AF Castelli, M. Binotti, A. Giaconia, E. Martelli. “Simultaneous design and operational optimization of hybrid CSP-PV plants”. Applied Energy. 2023, vol.331, 120369.