Tata Steel develops steel pipes for hydrogen transportation

Tata Steel has become the first steel company in India to demonstrate comprehensive capabilities in developing pipes for hydrogen transportation. This is stated in a press release from the steelmaker.

As noted, the company has successfully developed hydrogen-compatible API X65 steel pipes. They were manufactured at Tata Steel’s plant in Khopoli using steel produced at the Kalinganagar facility.

The qualification tests were conducted at RINA-CSM (Italy), a leading center for approving hydrogen-related tests and characteristics. The new API X65 pipes can be used to transport 100% pure hydrogen gas at high pressure (100 bar).

According to Prabhat Kumar, Vice President, Marketing and Sales (Flat Products), Tata Steel, the company has always been at the forefront of developing technologies for the production of critical steel grades.

“The successful trial of the new ERW pipes demonstrates our ability to create critical physical infrastructure for the energy sector in the domestic market,” he said.

Prabhat Kumar added that by doing so, the company is contributing to India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission and has become the first Indian steelmaker to successfully take up this challenge and supply products to meet the growing domestic and global demand for these specialty steel grades.

Tata Steel’s R&D team is actively engaged in creating innovative and sustainable solutions for hydrogen transportation and storage. In the case of the new pipes, the technology development, from design to production, was fully carried out in-house.

In 2024, Tata Steel also became the first Indian steel company to produce hot-rolled steel for the transportation of hydrogen gas.

According to the company, the National Hydrogen Mission will allow the country to create opportunities for the production of at least 5 million tons of green hydrogen per year by 2030, with the potential to reach 10 million tons per year with additional export demand. This will require significant investments in production and transportation.

Tata Steel expects demand for hydrogen-compatible steel to start growing in 2026-2027, with the total demand reaching 350 kt in the coming years.

In the spring of 2023, Tata Steel tested hydrogen injection into blast furnace E at its flagship steel mill in Jamshedpur. In particular, the company was looking for ways to reduce coke consumption and carbon emissions.