This report is an integral part of the 2019-2021 research activity aimed at identifying possible technological solutions that enable the gradual replacement of fossil fuels with hydrogen, in order to achieve decarbonization in production processes. This report is the result of a critical analysis of information from multiple authoritative sources, including institutional, associative, and private organizations within the field of industrial studies. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of hydrogen use in industry to lay the groundwork for the next research phase, which will focus on identifying technological solutions that can contribute to the decarbonization of industrial processes in the medium to long term. This will be achieved through a progressive “abandonment” of fossil fuels, either through deep energy efficiency measures in processes that minimize their use, or through the use of “C-free” fuels. Among the potential carriers capable of replacing conventional fuels is hydrogen. Currently, its use is limited in both sectors and volumes, due to technological constraints and, above all, economic non-viability.

Particularly, the possible use of hydrogen in the steel industry has been explored, as it currently represents the most promising and impactful path for decarbonizing the industry. In many industrial sectors, certain production phases require combustion processes based on fossil fuels to generate the heat that must be transferred to the material being processed. This report presents several studies showing that hydrogen can fully or at least partially replace fossil fuels, depending on the technologies available, thereby reducing CO2 production.