The European Union has ambitious production targets for renewable hydrogen, with a target of producing 10 million tonnes by 2030. Transporting hydrogen presents unique challenges that ArcelorMittal is addressing, by developing new steel grades to support pipe manufacturers. It is in this context that HyMatch® was created, with all grades in the product family featuring homogeneous microstructure and good cleanliness, resulting in low risk of hydrogen embrittlement.
Dedicated research activities
Through ArcelorMittal Global R&D, research programmes for the use of steel in the hydrogen infrastructure are underway in a number of ArcelorMittal production sites, including in France (Fos-sur-Mer), Germany (Bremen) and R&D laboratories including in Belgium (Gent). Production in Fos and Bremen offers proximity to pipe manufacturers based in the Mediterranean countries and North Sea region respectively.
Furthermore, ArcelorMittal is improving the performance of its hydrogen-focused steel offer through continuous investments in internal research and development efforts, and active participation in international joint industrial projects (DNV H2Pipes JIP, ARCOR MRC13, EWI New H2 pipes JIP) and European funded projects (SafeH2pipe, HyWay, PilgrHYm).
HyMatch® and XCarb® steel certificates
HyMatch® steels for hydrogen transmission pipelines can be purchased alongside XCarb® steel certificates which allow customers to report an equivalent reduction in their Scope 3 emissions. The certificates represent the additional CO2 emissions reductions that ArcelorMittal has achieved from third-party audited CO2 abatement projects in its steel production plants.
“We are proud to announce the launch of HyMatch®, which presents our customers with the family of steel grades available for use in the construction of hydrogen-ready pipelines. While we have been producing line pipe steel for many decades, the new challenge the energy transition brings to pipelines is to safely transport H2 and CO2. We are therefore using our R&D and engineering expertise to develop the steel grades needed in these new applications, and are excited to be working with a number of different partners to trial our newest steel grades for the planned hydrogen pipelines”, said Laurent Plasman, CMO Industry, ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products
