Applied research for the development of alkaline electrolysers
The research project in which Color Esmalt participates, entitled H2toGreenCeramics – Applied research for the production of alkaline electrolyzers for the decarbonisation of the ceramic cluster, aims to advance the decarbonisation of the ceramic sector in the Valencian Community through the use of green hydrogen. The project focuses on developing technology to enable the on-site production of green hydrogen and its use as an alternative to natural gas in energy-intensive industrial processes.
To achieve this overall objective, the following specific goals have been defined:
- To develop alkaline electrolyzers for the production of green hydrogen to support the decarbonisation of the ceramic sector.
- To integrate a 50 kW alkaline electrolyzer at the Low-Carbon Plant of the Ceramic Technology Institute (ITC) in Almassora (Castellón) and carry out experimental testing of the electrolyzer–burner–combustion chamber system.
- To analyse the technical feasibility of partially or fully replacing natural gas with hydrogen as a fuel in the firing of ceramic tiles.
- In a second phase, to integrate an advanced electrolyzer of between 250 kW and 500 kW at Color Esmalt’s frit manufacturing plant in L’Alcora (Castellón) to validate the technology in an industrial environment.
- To study the blending of hydrogen with the natural gas network (up to 20% by volume) and adapt an existing oxy-fuel kiln to operate safely and efficiently, also making use of the oxygen produced by the electrolyzer.
The project is partially funded by the Regional Ministry for Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism of the Valencian Community under the Programme to Promote Strategic Industrial Projects in the region. In addition to Color Esmalt, the project involves Técnicas Reunidas (project leader), the technology centres Ceramic Technology Institute (ITC) and AIJU, and Proying XXI Ingeniería, thereby covering the entire value chain from green hydrogen production to its industrial application.
