RINA-CSM - HYDRA (IT06)

The IPCEI project HYDRA IT06 is executed by Rina Consulting – Centro Sviluppo Materiali S.p.A. (in short RINA-CSM) as sole partner.

Formerly CSM, it was founded in 1963 by Italy’s major steel manufacturers and end-users with the mission of developing steel technologies and applications. Today RINA-CSM is part of RINA Group, a leading certification company and engineering company in Italy providing a wide range of services across the Energy & Mobility, Marine, Certification, Infrastructure & Real Estate and Industry sectors. Over time RINA widened the range of its technological interests and skills to cover new capabilities, in order to become a reference point for steel and high-tech industry worldwide. Thanks to the very highly skilled engineers and scientists, RINA can well reply anywhere there is a demand for advanced materials knowledge, especially in steel and metal alloys processes and products.

The main objective of HYDRA IT06 project is to contribute to the development of industrial solutions for the introduction and use of hydrogen in the steel supply chain as well as its integration with the related hydrogen production, transport and distribution infrastructures. The introduction of the use of hydrogen in the production process potentially allows the decarbonization of the entire European steel sector, in line with the European objectives for 2050, increasing its global competitiveness.

In the HYDRA project it is envisaged the creation of an open innovation platform, potentially supporting all European steel producers, including small ones.

Specifically, HYDRA concerns the development and set-up of:

• an Innovative Pilot Direct Reduction Plant (DRI) powered by Hydrogen;
• an Electric Furnace (EAF) melting H2-DRI, in order to study and develop the metallurgy related to «green» Raw Materials and use of Hydrogen Burners;
• Hydrogen Use in the Heating and Heat Treatment Furnaces;
• Methodologies for testing and qualification of Materials/Components to be used for the transportation and distribution of Hydrogen in the Steelmaking Plants;

Hydra IT06 foresees the realization of new laboratories for material testing with H2, mainly located in Castel Romano (Italy). Civil Works are planned to start by the end of October 2023, while the complete installation of the laboratory equipment will be finalized by 3Q 2025.

On the other hand, the project regards the installation of an innovative pilot plant for:

• the production of pre-reduced iron with hydrogen (DRI Tower)
• the production of “green steel” in an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), using pre-reduced iron from DRI Tower as raw material.

The licensee has been selected and the manufacturing of the plant modules will be started by 2Q 2024.

www.rina.org
Contact person: Dott. Pietro Gimondo via pietro.gimondo@rina.org