The two compressor units are based on the KS50 Pro model from Hiperbaric and enable the compression of green hydrogen up to 500 bar. The compressed hydrogen is intended, among other things, to be used in the Hyfor process (Hydrogen-based Fine Ore Reduction). This process aims to gradually replace fossil energy sources in steel production with hydrogen.
Research platform for industrial electrolysis
H2Future is a joint research project by Voestalpine and the Austrian energy supplier Verbund. The plant is considered one of the longest-running hydrogen pilot plants on an industrial scale and utilizes PEM electrolysis. According to Voestalpine, the company is researching the industrial production of green hydrogen there, in order to replace fossil fuels in steel manufacturing. The company has set itself the goal of achieving net-zero CO2 emissions in steel production by 2050.
Low-emission steel for compressor manufacturing
The collaboration has also a reverse direction: Hiperbaric uses the emissions-reduced steel Greentec Steel from Voestalpine in the manufacturing of its high-pressure devices. Since the start of deliveries, Hiperbaric has cumulatively saved around 430 tonnes of CO2 equivalents, according to the joint statement. In the production of the Greentec Steel edition, Voestalpine applies process optimizations that avoid up to ten percent of emissions compared to the conventional blast furnace route. This enables Hiperbaric to reduce its Scope 3 emissions. The savings are calculated using an allocation model validated by the independent certification service provider LRQA.
According to their own statements, the cooperation between the two companies has existed for fifteen years. Hiperbaric is a Spanish company based in Burgos, which has been developing and manufacturing industrial high-pressure technology since 1999. Since 2020, the company has been offering hydrogen compressors and, according to its own information, has so far sold more than fifty compressor units. Hiperbaric states that it is the only Spanish manufacturer offering high-pressure compression solutions up to 1,000 bar.
