Hydrogen venture Genvia agrees pilot projects in steel, cement sectors

Genvia, a French-based clean hydrogen technology venture, has signed three pilot projects in the steel and cement industries intended to help scale up its electrolyser technology and decarbonise critical industrial sectors, oilfield services group Schlumberger Ltd (NYSE:SLB) said today.

Genvia describes itself as a combination of French science and global engineering. Its partner companies include the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), Schlumberger New Energy, VINCI Construction, Vicat Group and the Occitanie Region. Genvia's electrolyser and fuel cell systems are based on a proprietary solid oxide technology.

A pilot project with ArcelorMittal Mediterranee, a subsidiary of steel giant ArcelorMittal (AMS:MT), will substitute current hydrogen use and help decarbonise high-performance electric steel production needed for the electric vehicle (EV) industry.

Genvia has also agreed to work with Ugitech, part of Swiss Steel Group, to demonstrate the technical relevance of hydrogen as a clean fuel for a reheating furnace to replace natural gas, as well as the economic efficiency of Genvia's technology.

The third project will seek to optimise Genvia’s technology for industrial applications, demonstrated in the cement sector. It is partnering on this initiative with cement group Vicat SA (EPA:VCT); Hynamics, a hydrogen subsidiary of EDF (EPA:VCT); and EDF research.

The projects are set to produce between 200 kg and 600 kg of hydrogen per day. Genvia says its technology targets the highest system efficiency, meaning significantly lower electricity use per kg of hydrogen produced.

According to the announcement, French President Emmanuel Macron has reiterated his commitment to the hydrogen economy during a visit to the Schlumberger and Genvia facility this week.

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