Kiwa and Vinçotte: Key Partners in the Horizon Europe SYRIUS Project

Kiwa and Vinçotte, a company of the Kiwa Group, are proud to be strategic partners in the Horizon Europe SYRIUS project, titled "SOEC Hydrogen Integration and Circular Use in Steelmaking Process", initiated by EU CORE Consulting and Politecnico di Milano.

Innovation for a More Sustainable Steel Industry

The aim of the SYRIUS project is to revolutionize the steel sector by integrating hydrogen into steel production processes, significantly reducing CO₂ emissions and improving energy efficiency.

Kiwa’s Role in the SYRIUS Project

As part of the SYRIUS partnership, Kiwa plays a crucial role in the safety and certification of the innovative technologies being developed. Specifically, Kiwa will be responsible for safety assessment, standardization, and pre-certification of the SOEC (Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell) system integrated into the steelmaking process.

Vinçotte, in turn, will ensure the overall safety of the installation by adopting a comprehensive, 360° approach, working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure compliance with installation standards. Additionally, Vinçotte will be in charge of pre-certifying hydrogen production, ensuring that it meets the requirements for Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) as outlined in the RED II directive.

Integrating Hydrogen into Steel Production

The SYRIUS project marks a significant step forward in decarbonizing the steel industry. With €10 million in funding and an ambitious program, SYRIUS will demonstrate the integration of a 4.2 MWel SOEC plant into an operational Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) in Terni, Italy.

This electrolysis system will produce 100 kg of green hydrogen per hour, which will be used to power a fuel-flexible reheating furnace, contributing to an annual CO₂ emissions reduction of 5,600 tonnes.

Thanks to its expertise in certification and safety, Kiwa will ensure that the integration of hydrogen into production processes is effective, safe, and compliant with the highest industry standards. By leveraging hydrogen and advanced energy management systems, this project will help usher in a new era of sustainable steelmaking.

Innovation and Industrial Sustainability

SYRIUS also promotes the principles of the circular economy by adopting innovative solutions such as:

• Recovering waste heat from furnace exhaust gases to generate steam for the SOEC
• Recycling water and recovering oxygen as a by-product of the process

This integrated approach will increase operational efficiency, reduce waste, and support the goal of a more sustainable steel industry.

Long-Term Impact on Industry and the Hydrogen Market

The SYRIUS project is expected to have a significant impact not only on the steel sector but also on the entire European hydrogen market by providing a scalable model for hydrogen integration in heavy industry. The expertise of Kiwa and Vinçotte will help establish new standards in safety, compliance, and technological innovation.

A Partnership for a Greener Future

The SYRIUS consortium brings together leading academic and industrial partners, including Politecnico di Milano, Acciai Speciali Terni, and Tenova, alongside Kiwa and Vinçotte. Together, they are developing cutting-edge technologies to support the European Green Deal and contribute to the EU's climate neutrality goals by 2050.

Through this collaboration, Kiwa, Vinçotte, and the other partners are leading the transition toward a more sustainable, efficient, and circular steel industry, highlighting hydrogen’s key role in the decarbonization of the economy.

For more information, read the full press release: https://zenodo.org/records/14967499
Learn more about Kiwa’s work in Sustainability and the Energy Transition: https://www.kiwa.com/en/markets/energy-and-power-generation/hydrogen/