Italy's first trial using hydrogen to process steel products at a manufacturing plant has been launched.
This ambitious six-month project is a collaboration between Snam, a major energy infrastructure operator in Europe; TenarisDalmine, a Tenaris company known for its expertise in pipe manufacturing for the energy sector; and Tenova, a leader in providing sustainable solutions for the metallurgical industry’s green transition.
On-Site Hydrogen Production
The primary goal of this initiative is to assess the efficiency and reliability of using hydrogen in the steel industry and other challenging-to-decarbonize sectors. The trial will utilize on-site hydrogen production to fuel a newly developed Tenova burner, designed to be 100% hydrogen-compatible, installed in a reheating furnace at the TenarisDalmine facility in Dalmine (Bergamo), Italy.
Collaborative Effort for Decarbonization
The Techint Group companies (TenarisDalmine, Tenova, and Techint Engineering & Construction) are combining their expertise to develop, implement, and validate the necessary technologies for decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries by gradually replacing fossil fuels with green hydrogen.
The project will focus on establishing safety protocols and operational procedures to create integrated solutions that can significantly reduce CO2 emissions in hard-to-abate manufacturing processes. TenarisDalmine will provide the site and reheating furnace, and contribute its expertise in the installation, operation, and performance monitoring of the steel plants. Snam will supply an alkaline electrolysis system for hydrogen production, operated by TenarisDalmine. Tenova will bring its knowledge in combustion systems, supplying burners specifically designed for hydrogen fuel.
Additionally, Techint Engineering & Construction, another Techint Group company, will offer design and project management services, conduct risk analysis, and ensure compliance with safety standards. This collaboration will help develop integrated solutions to significantly lower CO2 emissions from hard-to-abate industries.
Hydrogen as a Service Model
Through this partnership, Snam introduces its Hydrogen as a Service model, leasing the electrolysis system to end users who will operate it. This initiative is part of Snam's broader efforts to guide industrial companies toward decarbonization, testing processes for future large-scale infrastructure solutions.
