SARRALLE has achieved a major milestone in the path toward industrial decarbonization with the successful completion of a pioneering green hydrogen combustion system at ArcelorMittal’s Olaberria plant, one of Europe’s most advanced steel production facilities.
The project represents a breakthrough in the use of green hydrogen and oxy-combustion technologies within the steelmaking industry. Designed, manufactured, and installed entirely by SARRALLE, the system enables the reheating furnace in the rolling mill to operate using 100% green hydrogen instead of natural gas — fully eliminating CO₂ emissions from the combustion process.
Developed in close collaboration with Nippon Gases, the system replaces traditional air–natural gas burners with hydrogen-based oxy-fuel burners, significantly improving thermal efficiency and ensuring cleaner, more sustainable steel production. The combustion of hydrogen generates only water vapor, making it a key enabler of zero-emission processes.
As reheating furnaces are among the most energy-intensive systems in steel plants — consuming up to 80% of a facility’s fuel — this innovation represents a crucial step toward the decarbonization of the steel sector, which currently accounts for around 9% of global CO₂ emissions.
“This project is a key step toward the future of the steel industry. It proves that green hydrogen combustion technology is already a reality and that decarbonizing industrial processes is possible,” says Itsaso Auzmendi-Murua, Head of the Hydrogen Business Line at SARRALLE.
With this achievement, SARRALLE strengthens its leadership in hydrogen-based industrial solutions, reaffirming its commitment to innovation, energy transition, and the sustainable future of the steel industry.
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Press release https://www.sarralle.com/en
