The steel industry currently accounts for approximately 8% of global carbon emissions. With each ton of steel production releasing an average of 1.63 ton of CO2, there is a pressing need for more sustainable solutions. The open research Hydra project aims to reduce emissions to mere kilograms of CO2 per ton of steel and will make this technology available to the industry on the way to net zero.
Located at RINA's Centro Sviluppo Materiali (CSM) in Castel Romano, Italy, and funded through an €88 million European Commission NextGenerationEU investment, the six-year Hydra initiative is part of the IPCEI (Important Projects of Common European Interest) programme and will involve a dedicated team of 120 people.
The project's innovation lies in its extensive use of hydrogen throughout the steel production process. By 2025, the facility is set to feature a direct iron ore reduction (DRI) tower, which will use hydrogen as its primary reducing agent, as well as an electric furnace and a reheating furnace.
Through a testing and qualification hub, the project will also characterise the materials, equipment and internal infrastructure required, including transportation and storage, by steel producers to transition to 100% hydrogen fuelled steel production.
Furthermore, thanks to its experience in hydrogen-based decarbonisation technologies, among which the world's first test of a 30% gas-hydrogen blend in steel forging, RINA plans to introduce a training centre as part of the Hydra project, focusing on the intricacies of their application. This centre is expected to serve as an international hub, fostering collaboration and research among stakeholders in the steel and energy sectors.
As industries worldwide grapple with the realities of climate change and the push for decarbonisation, projects like Hydra signal a positive shift and underscores the European Commission's commitment to the broader adoption of hydrogen as a sustainable energy source.