Italian consultancy RINA said today it is kicking off a six-year research project, called Hydra, to build a 100% hydrogen-fuelled steel production pilot plant.
The EUR-88-million (USD 92.7m) project is backed by the European Commission as an IPCEI (Important Projects of Common European Interest) project. It calls for the design and construction of a pilot plant that will use hydrogen in every stage of the steel production cycle and will be able to make up to seven tonnes of different grades of steel per hour. Slated 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.
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Hydra is an open research project. As such, 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,” explained RINA chairman and chief executive Ugo Salerno.
The company noted that the steel industry is responsible for around 8% of global emissions.
(EUR 1 = USD 1.053)
