The Research & Development Center of the Taranto plant, operating under Acciaierie d’Italia in Amministrazione Straordinaria, has completed the Kick-Off Meeting of the European H2Loop Project after two days of intensive work. The project aims to develop innovative solutions for sustainable hydrogen production and the decarbonization of the steel sector, and is co-funded by the European Commission under the RFCS–BIG TICKET program.
Acciaierie d’Italia’s R&D Center is among the project’s main partners. H2Loop is designed to support research and innovation in the steel sector in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, strengthening Europe’s scientific excellence, industrial competitiveness, and sustainability.
The four-year project brings together several international partners, including: VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut GmbH (BFI) from Germany, with over 50 years of steel industry expertise, Rouge H2 Engineering AG from Austria, developer of the core technology, Politecnico di Torino, a leading academic institution in engineering.
The central goal of H2Loop is to evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of applying a patented chemical looping hydrogen (CLH) process to produce hydrogen from metallurgical gases. This approach aims to accelerate the steel industry’s sustainable transition, reduce CO₂ emissions, and integrate hydrogen production into industrial applications.
The Taranto site has been proposed to host the pilot applications, reinforcing the strategic role of the R&D Center in researching advanced technologies for producing high-purity hydrogen from blast furnace gas. Project partners have already begun initial technical activities, including inspections of facilities and specialized laboratories.
H2Loop stands out as a pioneering initiative aimed at shaping a more sustainable and competitive European steel industry. The project strengthens Taranto’s position as a leader in research and technological innovation within the steel sector and contributes to Europe’s energy transition and Green Deal targets.
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