EMSTEEL is set to further reduce carbon emissions at its Abu Dhabi steelworks with the installation of an e-PGH Pilot (electric Process-Gas Heater) at DRI Plant #1. The plant utilizes Energiron technology, co-developed by Tenova and Danieli, and the new installation marks another step in EMSTEEL’s commitment to sustainable steel production.
The agreement to supply the industrial module follows a collaboration established during the Fifth Danieli Innovaction Meeting in 2024. EMSTEEL, through its subsidiary Emirates Steel, already operates three low-emission minimills for the production of high-quality long products, heavy sections, bars, and wire rod. These facilities incorporate Energiron DRI technology and Hytemp pneumatic systems, enabling hot DRI charging into the electric arc furnace (EAF) at temperatures up to 600 Celsius.
The e-PGH Pilot, developed jointly by Kanthal and Danieli, features Prothal DH, an efficient, compact, and modular electric heating solution. This installation will allow EMSTEEL to further cut carbon emissions from the DRI process, which already includes carbon sequestration from gas combustion, all without relying on hydrogen.
Kanthal, a global leader in sustainable heating technologies, began its collaboration with Danieli in 2024 to scale electric heating systems for use in direct reduction plants (DRPs) handling hundreds of megawatts of electricity. This new technology is expected to become a cornerstone in the decarbonization of both DRI plants and traditional blast furnaces.
In partnership with Khalifa University in the UAE, EMSTEEL and Danieli will develop advanced models to simulate the DRI core process, the behavior of the gas heater system, and the impact on the power grid. These models will help predict how the electric heater performs under varying conditions, including fluctuations in renewable energy supply.