Italian consultancy firm RINA has announced the launching of a six-year research project, called Hydra, to build a 100% hydrogen-fuelled steel production pilot plant.
The €88 million project is being backed by the European Commission as an IPCEI (Important Projects of Common European Interest) project.
The goal of the project consists of the design and construction of a pilot plant that will use hydrogen in every stage of the steel production cycle and is expected to make up to seven tonnes of different grades of steel per hour.
Currently aimed for completion by 2025, the facility will include a 30-metre high direct iron ore reduction (DRI) tower using hydrogen as a reducing agent, an electric furnace (EAF) and a reheating furnace.
“[Hydra] 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.”
Ugo Salerno, RINA chairman and chief executive
According to RINA chairman and chief executive Ugo Salerno, “[Hydra] 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.”
Salerno added: “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 commercial advantage to any one steel producer, 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.”