The consortium, including EIT InnoEnergy, Engie New Ventures, FORVIA, GROUPE IDEC, Plug Power, and Primetals Technologies, strives to produce direct reduced iron (DRI) from green and low-carbon hydrogen.
GRAVITHY LAUNCH
The consortium brings together a group of world leaders in industrial engineering and energy production to develop a world-class DRI production facility focused on hydrogen-based production. Partner EIT InnoEnergy is the innovation engine for sustainable energy supported by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology, a body of the European Union (EU). U.S.A.-based Plug Power brings its expertise in hydrogen fuel cells and electrolyzers. Combining with three French companies, energy company Engie New Ventures, automotive technology company FORVIA, and real estate developer GROUPE IDEC. Primetals Technologies will bring its expertise in hydrogen-based direct reduction and steel plant engineering.
There is considerable appetite to transform energy-intensive industries in France…. GravitHy will be a vital component in the French government’s proposed steel roadmap and its ambitions to cut CO2 emissions by 40 percent by 2030.”
Karine Vernier
Consortium Leader of GravitHy
DECARBONIZING THE VALUE CHAIN
The fully sustainable iron and steel company, GravitHy, will support the growing demand for green steel and contribute to Europe’s “Fit for 55.” When in operation, GravitHy aims to produce an annual throughput of two million tons of green and low-carbon hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) and to create over 3,000 direct and indirect jobs for the region in southern France.
The consortium’s goal is to reduce emissions from the steel sector, which is responsible for 8 percent of the global energy demand and 7 percent of the energy sector CO2 emissions (including process emissions) annually. The hydrogen-based DRI will be used on-site for green steel production or traded globally as Hot-Briquetted Iron (HBI). Hydrogen-based DRI contributes directly to the decarbonization of the steel industry as a “hard-to-abate” sector and supports the EU’s ambition for carbon neutrality by 2050.
We must make our country the first major nation to transition completely from fossil fuels. For this, we need our industry to develop the innovative decarbonization solutions required for today and tomorrow. GravitHy is an emblematic initiative that responds to these challenges which will contribute to and support the vital decarbonization of the steel sector.”
Agnès Pannier-Runacher
French Minister for Energy Transition
CROSS-SECTOR AND GLOBAL COLLABORATION
With the backing of global leaders in various sectors, GravitHy will receive support from EIT InnoEnergy and their access to the European Green Hydrogen Acceleration Center (EGHAC), with support from Breakthrough Energy. Engie provides valuable support for hydrogen, renewables, and electricity markets, while Plug Power brings its experience with integrated hydrogen projects. Groupe IDEC will support land acquisition, while Primetal Technologies supplies cutting-edge technologies and innovations to facilitate green steel production.
The GravitHy project is an important milestone and will contribute to our European goal of producing 10 million tons of clean hydrogen by 2030.”
Thierry Breton
European Commissioner for Internal Market
