Techint Engineering & Construction, Tenaris, Snam and Tenova conducted the initial test at the TenarisDalmine plant.

July 3 marked the start of Italy's first test using hydrogen at a steel plant for steel processing, as a six-month trial to burn green hydrogen in a reheating furnace, at the TenarisDalmine plant in Bergamo.

The initiative is led by four major players: Snam (leading European operator in natural gas transportation, storage and regasification), TenarisDalmine, (a Tenaris company and global leader in tube production and services for the energy sector), Tenova and Techint Engineering & Construction. The collaboration aims to identify solutions that allow decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries by leveraging the rapid growth of the hydrogen sector to promote the green energy transition.

Techint E&C handled the conceptual and detailed engineering of the installation, developing risk analysis, and ensuring compliance with legal requirements and safety standards. TenarisDalmine provided the site and reheating furnace, contributing its expertise in installation, operation, and performance monitoring of steel plant facilities. Leveraging its knowledge in hydrogen technologies and molecule transportation, Snam supplied an alkaline electrolysis system to produce hydrogen, and Tenova completed the value chain by sharing its expertise in combustion systems, providing burners designed to be powered by hydrogen.

The test will last six months and will allow assessing the performance and reliability of hydrogen usage in an industrial context, with a focus on the steel industry. Additionally, it will help define and implement safety guidelines and plant management procedures, initiating the development of integrated solutions to significantly reduce CO2 emissions from production processes in hard-to-abate industries.

The power of synergy

After a short presentation of the project held by Fabio Praolini, Tenaris Environment Regional Director, the companies’ representatives moved to the electrolyzer installed outside the Medium Size Rolling Mill and, subsequently, to the control pulpit, where they were able to see the flame of the hydrogen-powered burner on the monitor of the furnace's internal camera. At the end of the visit, they shared a few comments about the pilot.

“With this project, which integrates all decarbonization initiatives undertaken by Tenaris globally to reduce its carbon footprint by 30% by 2030, we are verifying feasibility and building the capabilities to use hydrogen as a green fuel in our industrial processes,” said Michele Della Briotta, President of Tenaris Europe.

“It’s a pleasure for us to inaugurate such a relevant project together with an excellence of the industry such as Tenaris, and a cutting-edge Group. This project stems from a broad vision on how to find efficient solutions to support decarbonization,” highlighted Piero Ercoli, Executive Director Decarbonization Unit SNAM.

Antonio Catalano, Executive Vice President Tenova Downstream, added: “Tenova first invested in hydrogen several years ago. The use of hydrogen will allow steel companies like Tenaris to truly become carbon free. This pilot will enable us to gain experience and develop a competitive advantage.”

“Many decarbonization projects remain on paper. This represents one of the few examples of a project that has managed to materialize thanks to great synergy among the companies of the Techint Group involved and Snam, but also thanks to the Group’s ability to go from statements to facts”, concluded Andrea Cignoli, CEO of Techint E&C Milan Office.

Thanks to this collaboration, the companies within the Techint Group will consolidate their expertise in developing, implementing, and validating technologies required for the progressive decarbonization of hard-to-abate industries.