Press releases and news

A study conducted by ENEA, Sapienza University of Rome, and SERCO Italia SpA and published in the journal “Atmosphere”, showed that in Rome people are exposed to marked thermal discomfort due to high temperatures for over 100 days a year, a number that far exceeds the number of days marked by heat waves.

A study conducted by ENEA and the University of Tuscia, published in the international Journal of Hydrogen Energy - which provides useful data for future strategies for zero-emission vehicles - shows that hydrogen is becoming increasingly competitive in freight transport: on routes longer than 300 km, in vehicles weighing 3.5–18 metric tons, hydrogen-powered fuel cells can reduce costs by up to 55%  compared to electric batteries.

Improving European railway stations safety by supporting the training of incident management personnel that handle chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive (CBRNe) agents is the objective of the European project CBRNe4rail, comprising twelve partners—including ENEA—from six European countries.

A study conducted by ENEA, released on World Biodiversity Day (May 22), has shown that the dry climate helps make the flesh of certain cherry varieties firmer, increasing their protection against attacks by one of their main ‘enemies’ the Asian fruit fly (Drosophila suzukii). The research developed a laboratory screening system to assess the resistance or susceptibility of different varieties to this insect. Since its arrival in Italy from China, the fruit fly has caused significant damage to cherry production, particularly in the Sabina area of Lazio, with losses in some cases exceeding 50%.

The goal of the Valmegrea project, conducted by ENEA in collaboration with the Terra Nostra farm, in line with the principles of the circular bioeconomy, is turning the waste from an excellent Italian product like the PGI Campanian Annurca apple into high-value resources for various applications (food, nutraceuticals, cosmetics).

Plants used as “bioreactors” to produce molecules for the development of vaccines and diagnostic kits for certain diseases in sheep and pigs that are transmissible to humans is the objective ENEA is working to achieve as coordinator of the 6-million-euro European REPRODIVAC project, aimed at combating these diseases.