The ‘Phe4GOLD’ project is officially underway, with the goal of powering goldsmithing production exclusively with green hydrogen. Graziella Holding’s headquarters in Arezzo hosted the first operational meeting of a multidisciplinary working group which – bringing together some of Tuscany’s leading Research & Development organisations – will share their respective expertise to design and develop a groundbreaking technology capable of integrating photovoltaics, electrolysis and storage to support the energy transition in the high jewellery sector.
The project, funded by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security under the Mission Innovation 2.0 call of the PNRR, aims to demonstrate the feasibility of zero-impact solutions applicable at industrial scale, in order to supply the jewellery production chain with green hydrogen generated from renewable sources and to drastically cut emissions in the goldsmithing industry.
The working group is coordinated by BRT Consulting of Arezzo and, during the first operational meeting, shared the technical timeline that will guide the start-up phase of ‘Phe4GOLD’, which stands for Photovoltaic Hydrogen Electrolysis For Gold. The first tangible milestone will be the installation, by July 2026, of the first prototype of an innovative technology based on hydrogen electrolysers powered entirely by renewable sources.
Optimised through Artificial Intelligence algorithms, it will be specifically designed to meet the needs of the gold sector. Testing will then be carried out directly within Graziella Braccialini’s Gold Division, in the production of the ultra-light jewellery of the patented ‘Air’ line, to pursue a fully sustainable, zero-impact supply chain.
The goal is to create a replicable and scalable model in which technological innovation, artificial intelligence and artisanal tradition can be integrated to reduce emissions, enhance local expertise and strengthen the leadership of the Arezzo gold district in the global energy transition. This will be achieved through a network of collaborations which, in addition to Graziella Braccialini and BRT Consulting, also includes the Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering of the School of Engineering at the University of Pisa, G-Smart of Arezzo, Enapter of Crespina Lorenzana (Pisa), and Zerynth of Pisa.
Dr Massimo Biribicchi, BRT Consulting, explained: “This project is a tangible example of how innovation and sustainability can be integrated in a traditional sector such as goldsmithing. The aim is not only to reduce emissions, but to move towards a replicable industrial model capable of combining advanced technologies with the artisanal excellence of our territory.”