Iris Ceramica and Edison Next collaborate on green hydrogen ceramics factory

Iris Ceramica Group and Edison Next have announced the signing of an agreement for the development of “H2 Factory,” a production facility in Castellarano (RE) that will reportedly run on green hydrogen, produced on-site using a custom-designed system.

According to the companies, this is a “concrete, innovative project aimed at the decarbonisation of Italy’s ceramics industry with green hydrogen produced on-site, an initiative that paves the way for the decarbonisation of a particularly ‘hard-to-abate’ industry, a decisive step in achieving energy transition targets in the country and in this strategic area for the industry”. Knowledge, technology and “great determination and faith” are described as some of the key elements put in place to implement the green ceramics factory.

For the factory, Edison Next will produce an ecological hydrogen production plant employing electrolysis, with a capacity of 1MW, powered by renewable energy. The electrolyser will use rainwater collected in tanks, the company says, promoting virtuous water cycle management consistent with the principles of the circular economy. The project also flanks the existing rooftop photovoltaic panels, which produce approximately 2MW of power, with another 1.2MW photovoltaic installation.

The agreement with Edison Next represents a significant step on the path toward decarbonisation for Iris Ceramica Group, the companies say, with the possibility of other hydrogen-powered plants being installed in the group’s other production facilities in future.