Constellium SE announced the successful completion of its inaugural industrial-scale hydrogen casting at C-TEC, the company’s main R&D center. The casting was conducted in a 12 tonne furnace, adhering to stringent internal protocols. Quality monitoring included the use of Batscan™ technology, an inclusion detection tool for molten aluminium, and no quality impact from hydrogen combustion on the metal was observed.
“The 12 tonne aluminum slab produced using hydrogen will be further processed at our Neuf-Brisach site in France for use in electric vehicles. This milestone is significant in our roadmap towards decarbonizing our industrial activities, as we have begun exploring the performance of hydrogen as a substitute for natural gas at an industrial scale, provided that hydrogen is green, more accessible, and cost-effective for industrial applications,” according to the company.
Constellium is actively engaged in multiple multi-stakeholder projects to advance hydrogen technologies for industrial decarbonization. A prominent initiative is HyInHeat (Hydrogen Technologies for Decarbonization of Industrial Heating Processes). This European Union-funded project explores replacing natural gas with hydrogen in aluminium and steel transformation processes. Beyond hydrogen, Constellium is also investigating alternative decarbonisation technologies, including direct electrification solutions compatible with existing furnaces.