Italy’s Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche S.p.A., a global leader in iron and steelmaking plants, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Newcleo SA, a nuclear energy innovator, to explore the use of Lead-cooled Fast Reactors (LFRs) in green steel production.
The collaboration aims to leverage LFRs’ ability to generate both electricity and high-temperature heat, integrating them into Danieli’s steelmaking processes. This initiative supports Danieli’s vision of producing high-quality green steel while offering steelmakers affordable, carbon-free energy. The partnership could also facilitate energy solutions across the iron and steel value chain, including green hydrogen production to power Danieli’s Energiron Direct Reduction Technology.
This agreement comes at a pivotal moment for European steelmaking, aligning with the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal and its EUR 100 bln (USD 108 bln) commitment to low-carbon manufacturing. The EU has also pledged to accelerate small modular reactor (SMR) development, recognizing their role in industrial decarbonization and energy security.
Danieli’s partnership with Newcleo adds to its portfolio of collaborations with Fincantieri (naval propulsion), Maire (green chemistry), and Saipem (offshore nuclear applications), further demonstrating the potential of innovative nuclear energy solutions.
With Italy advancing efforts to reintegrate nuclear energy into its power mix, these partnerships create new opportunities for stable, competitive clean energy, supporting net-zero goals while preserving Europe’s industrial competitiveness.
1 USD / 0.92 EUR
