Danieli and newcleo to study production of green steel based on nuclear energy

The Italian Danieli Group and French nuclear energy innovator newcleo have signed a memorandum of understanding. The companies will explore opportunities to integrate advanced small nuclear reactor technology (Lead-cooled Fast Reactors, LFR) into steel production. This is stated in the message of newcleo.

Thanks to the ability of newcleo’s LFRs to provide both electricity and high-temperature heat, green steel production processes, such as Danieli Digimelter, and green hydrogen for Energiron’s direct reduction plants will be developed.

According to Stefano Buono, founder and CEO of newcleo, the company’s goal with this collaboration is to provide steelmakers with economically viable
solutions for green steel production.

Alessandro Brussi, Chairman of the Board of Danieli, emphasized that solutions for generating cheap energy without fossil fuels are one of the key factors for moving one step forward in the decarbonization of the steel industry.

As GMK Center reported earlier, Danieli plans to invest €572 million in sustainability projects over the next five years. The goal is to increase the efficiency of the company’s plants and recycle waste as much as possible. The most important of the projects is the Digital Green Plant, an environmentally friendly line that will allow the company to produce 700 thousand tons of specialty steel per year in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.