15/11/2025
Taranto, 15 November 2025 – After two days of work at the Taranto Plant's Research and Development Centre, Acciaierie d’Italia in Extraordinary Administration concluded the kick-off meeting of the European H2Loop project today. The project is dedicated to developing innovative solutions for the sustainable production of hydrogen and the decarbonisation of the steel sector. The initiative is co-financed by the European Commission under the RFCS-BIG TICKET programme.
The Acciaierie d'Italia Research and Development Centre is one of the key partners of the Project that were selected for funding in the European RFCS-BIG TICKET call for proposals. This initiative supports research and innovation projects in the steel sector that align with the goals of the European Green Deal, promoting scientific excellence, competitiveness, and the sustainability of European industry.
The four-year project involves three international partners: VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut GmbH (BFI), a German research centre with over 50 years' experience in the steel industry; Rouge H2 Engineering AG, an Austrian company that is developing the technology under study; and the Polytechnic University of Turin, a leading Italian academic institution in the field of engineering.
The primary objective of H2Loop is to evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of the patented chemical looping (CLH) process for producing hydrogen from metallurgical gases. This solution has the potential to accelerate the sustainable transition of the steel industry by reducing CO2 emissions and integrating hydrogen production for industrial applications.
The site managed by Acciaierie d’Italia in Taranto has been selected to host the pilot plants, which confirms the strategic importance of the Research and Development Centre in contributing to the development of advanced technologies for producing high-purity hydrogen by converting blast furnace gas. The partners have recently launched the initial technical activities, including the visits to the steelworks facilities and the R&D dedicated laboratories.
H2Loop is an ambitious, cutting-edge project that will make the steel industry more sustainable and competitive. It reinforces the Taranto steel industry's position as a leader and strategic partner in research and technological innovation, supporting European projects dedicated to the energy transition and helping to achieve the objectives of the Green Deal.
Project funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or of the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”
