Constellium embarks on hydrogen trials for sustainable casthouses

On March 12, 2024, Constellium unveiled its initiative to commence industrial trials for utilising hydrogen within its casthouses, marking a pivotal advancement in its dedication to reducing carbon emissions. Recycling and casting, among the most energy-intensive processes, collectively contribute to nearly half of Constellium's direct greenhouse gas emissions.

Following the promising laboratory-scale trials carried out in 2022 by C-TEC, the primary R&D hub of Constellium, the company successfully showcased that switching from natural gas to hydrogen doesn't compromise energy efficiency, oxidation rate, or product quality. Emphasising safety in operations, this initial demonstration phase has set the stage for large-scale testing at C-TEC.

Ludovic Piquier, the Senior Vice President of Manufacturing Excellence and Chief Technical Officer at Constellium, said, “We are excited to embark on industrial testing of hydrogen utilization in our casthouse operations now that our laboratory trials have affirmed the viability and safety of integrating hydrogen into our production processes.”

 “Green hydrogen is a promising lever to help the transition to carbon-neutral production, and we are proud of our progress in this important field. Our goal is to ensure Constellium is ready for the adoption of green hydrogen when it becomes more accessible and cost-effective for industrial applications.”

C-TEC has upgraded one of its furnaces with an advanced burner capable of utilising oxygen, natural gas, and/or hydrogen, gearing up for the upcoming industrial testing phase. Initial outcomes are anticipated in the third quarter of 2024.

Constellium actively engages in diverse collaborative projects to advance hydrogen technologies for industrial decarbonisation. HyInHeat "Hydrogen technologies for decarbonisation of industrial heating processes") stands out among these endeavours, backed by the European Union. This initiative delves into substituting natural gas with hydrogen in aluminium and steel transformation processes.

Moreover, Constellium is exploring alternative decarbonisation technologies, including solutions for direct electrification compatible with existing furnaces.