Full-scale Demonstration of Replicable Technologies for Hydrogen Combustion in Hard to Abate Industries: The Aluminium use-case

The H2AL consortium aims to address the challenges of adopting hydrogen (H2) in hard-to-abate industries (HTAIs) through a hybrid approach using digital tools and state-of-the-art experimental techniques. The consortium will develop an integrated H2 burner and support system for a heating furnace in an HTAI, specifically the aluminium scrap recycling industry. The project will investigate the impact of H2 combustion on the furnace structure and product quality while minimizing emissions.

H2AL will apply Oxyfuel combustion of H2 as combustion technology, which will be combined with low-NOx combustion techniques, most likely the flameless/MILD combustion mode. This approach will allow us to benefit from the main advantages from oxyfuel combustion while minimizing its emissions (particularly NOx). The impact of H2 combustion on the refractory materials, overall furnace structure and product quality (aluminium) will also be investigated and measures to minimize its impacts will be implemented.

To ensure widespread replication and exploitation of the technology, the consortium will perform techno-economic modeling, develop guidelines for technology integration, analyze geographic information, and develop new business models. The consortium comprises 10 partners from four countries, including 4 research organizations, 5 industrial partners, and an industry association, and includes an end-user association representing the aluminium sector in Europe. The H2AL project seeks to achieve TRL7 by running a full-scale demonstration for more than six months, with at least one trial of 100h at 100% H2 and with a thermal output of at more than 2 MWth.