Danieli, in collaboration with Kanthal and EMSTEEL, launched a pilot project to electrify process-gas heating at the DRI plant in Abu Dhabi. The 1.3-MW electric Process-Gas Heater (e-PGH) will be integrated with the existing Energiron DRI process, jointly developed by Tenova and Danieli, marking the first industrial-scale installation of direct electric heating for process gas.

The pilot unit uses Prothal® DH technology, a compact and modular electric heating solution developed by Danieli and Kanthal for high-efficiency operation. The system is designed to operate in parallel with the current fired heater.

Installation and commissioning are scheduled for 2026. The project is supported by Khalifa University, which will model the DRI core process, assess electrical grid impacts, and study renewable power variability. This initiative advances the decarbonization of direct reduction plants and aligns with Danieli’s roadmap for fossil-free steelmaking.