ABS backs hydrogen: €7.8M in North Adriatic Valley project

ABS - Acciaierie Bertoli Safau is actively engaged in research and experimental development, including participation in several projects co-financed by European programs.

Since September 2023, ABS has been part of the NAHV - North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley project, investing €7.8 million to help build an economic, social, and industrial ecosystem centered on hydrogen as an energy carrier.

This EU-co-funded initiative involves 37 other partners and includes 17 pilot projects in Slovenia, Croatia, and the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region in Italy.

The objectives of the NAHV project

The project is built around strategic goals aimed at reducing environmental impact and validating the industrial use of hydrogen in the steel sector, specifically:

- reducing CO₂ and NOₓ emissions thanks to advanced hydrogen-ready combustion technologies;
- validating the industrial use of hydrogen and methane mixtures (from 0 to 100% hydrogen) to power a treatment furnace, analyzing the impact of hydrogen use on the properties of the treated steel, and assessing the behavior and lifespan of refractory materials.

ABS’s contribution

Specifically, ABS is implementing and testing experimental hydrogen-powered burners. The goal is to convert a treatment furnace, currently powered by fossil fuels, into a potential zero-carbon-emission system using renewable hydrogen as an energy carrier.

A mixing station is also planned for installation to supply the furnace and test different hydrogen-methane mixtures, along with dedicated facilities for storing renewable hydrogen supplied by consortium partners.

The NAHV project marks a first step toward applying this technology to other furnaces in the plant and, more broadly, toward the adoption of hydrogen-based power in the steel industry.

About ABS

Formed from the merger of two historic steelworks, Officine Bertoli and Acciaierie Safau, ABS is the steelmaking division of the Danieli Group, and a well-established player across Europe in the field of special long steels. ABS continuously invests in Industry 4.0-driven research to enhance and digitalize its processes. Its commitment to reducing emissions and eliminating waste, combined with a strong focus on product quality, has established the company as a key player in the global steel industry, with a presence in over 50 countries.