EU: GravitHy chooses Energiron technology for hydrogen-based iron production in France

• Plant will produce 2 mnt/y HBI with 100% hydrogen integration possible
• Fos-sur-Mer site emerging as major hub of low-CO2 steelmaking in EU

GravitHy, the future producer of low-carbon iron for the European steel industry, announced the strategic signing of a contract with Danieli for the direct reduction plant of its flagship project in Fos-sur-Mer, France.

Under the agreement, Danieli will provide the process plant and the technological design for the direct reduction plant using Energiron technology, jointly developed by Danieli and Tenova. This plant is designed to produce up to 2 million tonnes per year (mnt/y) of high-quality hot briquetted iron (HBI), a premium form of direct reduced iron (DRI), with easy storage and logistic for use in low-carbon electric steelmaking.

The facility is being designed to operate with 100% hydrogen as reducing gas, supporting GravitHy’s ambition to deliver low-carbon iron to steelmakers across Europe.

The contract represents a major milestone in the GravitHy project, securing one of the plant’s core process units. It will also enable the progress of GravitHy’s FEED (Front End Engineering Design) studies which is a key piece to derisk the project before Final Investment Decision (FID) planned for 2027.

Technological cornerstone of GravitHy’s plant

The direct reduction plant will form the heart of GravitHy’s industrial process, transforming iron ore into DRI using hydrogen instead of conventional coal-based reduction methods.

Designed around hydrogen-based ironmaking, the plant will play a critical role in reducing carbon emissions associated with steel production, by around 90% on the overall value chain compared to traditional blast furnace steelmaking, while supporting the emergence of a competitive, resilient and sovereign European low-carbon steel value chain. Maximising value across the entire production chain.

The Energiron technology has been selected for its ability to generate synergies across the broader GravitHy industrial ecosystem. The process design enables the optimisation of energy use, utilities management and plant-wide operational efficiency, while ensuring seamless integration with hydrogen production, water treatment and downstream logistics assets.

The plant is designed to produce high-quality HBI suitable for electric steelmaking applications, combining high metallisation rates and optimised carbon content to meet the performance requirements of modern low-carbon steel production routes.

Strengthening project delivery

Beyond supplying key process equipment, the design of the direct reduction plant will maximise synergies with other parts of the GravitHy facility, supporting operational efficiency, energy optimisation and the production of world-class low-carbon iron products for European customers. Located in the industrial and port ecosystem of Fos-sur-Mer, the project will contribute to the emergence of a major European hub for low-carbon iron and steel production.