The companies will focus on developing potential integrated solutions where newcleo’s innovative LFRs provide both the electricity and high-temperature heat required to feed some of the Danieli technology processes for green steel production.
The initiative aligns with the Danieli vision of providing high quality green steel and has the potential to contribute to steelmaking in Europe and beyond by providing steel makers with affordable, abundant, and carbon-free electricity and high-temperature heat through newcleo’s nuclear energy solutions. The agreement could lead to energy supply solutions across the iron and steel value chain, including in applications linked to the Danieli digital melter and possibly the production of green hydrogen to power Danieli’s energiron direct reduction technology to produce metallic iron.
The understanding comes at a defining moment for the European steelmaking and manufacturing industry as demonstrated by the EU Commission’s Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Steel sector and the Clean Industrial Deal adopted in February, where the EU Commission took bold action to help energy-intensive industries lower their energy costs while also creating markets for low carbon and pledging over €100 billion in support of EU-made clean manufacturing. The Commission also pledged to accelerate the development and deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs), recognizing their integral contribution to Europe’s competitiveness in global markets and decarbonization strategies.
“Danieli is at the forefront of the steelmaking industry’s effort towards decarbonization and net zero, objectives which are ever more entangled with competitiveness and energy costs. Our objective through this collaboration is to provide steel manufacturers with economically viable solutions for the production of green steel. By combining our technologies, we will look to open up great opportunities for the global steel industry, not only by addressing the direct needs of steel makers, but also by propelling global supply chains towards a new era of competitiveness and sustainability,” said Stefano Buono, founder and CEO of newcleo.
“newcleo is an innovative player in the nuclear energy industry, looking to manufacture advanced modular reactors and closing the fuel cycle like Danieli is doing in the iron and steel to have plant and process with zero impact. A solution to obtain low-cost, fossil-free energy is one of the key factors to move a step ahead in the decarbonization of the steel industry,” said Alessandro Brussi, chairman of the board of Danieli.
