European Commission backs green steel hydrogen project

The €88m project is funded by the European Commission’s NextGenerationEU plan and backed by the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy through RINA’s Centro Sviluppo Materiali (CSM) in Castel Romano, Italy, and is part of the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) scheme.

The project is expected to produce up to seven tonnes of different grades of steel per hour, with an aim to reduce CO₂ emissions in the steel production industry.

Hydra will involve the design and construction of an operational pilot plant utilising hydrogen in every stage of the steel production cycle, which is scheduled for completion by 2025 and will consist of a 30m high direct iron ore reduction (DRI) tower using hydrogen as a reducing agent, an electric furnace, and a reheating furnace.

Ugo Salerno, chairman and CEO of RINA, said, “Beyond the technological advancements, the truly unique nature of this project is its position as an open research facility. It is not intended or designed to provide a commercial advantage to any one steel producer but rather move the industry and the world forward in the use of 100% hydrogen production with near zero emissions. This is why the Hydra project has been supported since its inception by leading European steel producers, plant suppliers, utilities, and major stakeholders in the sector.”

The project will utilize a testing and qualification hub to establish the materials, equipment and internal infrastructure required, such as transportation and storage, by steel producers to transition to 100% hydrogen-fuelled steel production.

Salerno added, “By backing Hydra as an IPCEI project, the European Commission has underscored its commitment to the broader adoption of hydrogen as a sustainable energy source.

Source: H2 View