ELEKTRA is expected to deliver a new generation of electrified reactor technologies that can support the transition of the steel industry towards low-carbon production. By replacing fossil-fired, heat-driven units with compact and intensified systems powered by electricity, the project aims to demonstrate practical routes to reduce energy demand, lower direct emissions and improve the flexibility of industrial processes.
One of the main expected results is the demonstration of an electrified top-gas reformer for direct reduced iron production. This technology will convert natural gas and recycled DRI top gas into a reducing gas mixture rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide, while avoiding the combustion losses and CO₂ emissions associated with conventional fired reformers. The system is expected to show high thermal efficiency, fast start-up, flexible operation and strong potential for integration with renewable electricity.
A second key result will be the validation of an electrified ammonia cracking system for the production of high-purity hydrogen. Ammonia is a promising carrier for transporting renewable hydrogen, but efficient cracking is essential to make it useful for large industrial consumers. ELEKTRA will demonstrate an intensified catalytic membrane reactor concept able to convert ammonia into hydrogen in a single compact unit, with very low ammonia slip and reduced energy consumption. This result is directly relevant for hydrogen-based direct reduction and for hydrogen injection into blast furnace operations.
The project will also demonstrate plasma-assisted CO₂ recycling as a disruptive pathway for circular carbon use in steelmaking. Instead of treating CO₂ only as an emission to be captured or stored, ELEKTRA will investigate its conversion into carbon monoxide, which can be reused as a reductant in ironmaking. This approach can help close the carbon loop, reduce the need for additional hydrogen or fossil carbon, and create a new route for integrating electrified CO₂ utilisation into steel plants.
Beyond the individual technologies, ELEKTRA is expected to produce a complete assessment of technical performance, safety, environmental impact, social impact and economic feasibility. The project will generate operational data from pilot demonstrations, define integration strategies for existing and future steelmaking routes, and provide evidence on how electrified reactors can contribute to energy savings and greenhouse-gas reduction.
The expected results will therefore include not only validated reactor prototypes, but also a roadmap for scale-up and industrial deployment. ELEKTRA will strengthen European knowledge and industrial capacity in electrified processes, ammonia-to-hydrogen technologies, membrane reactors, plasma CO₂ conversion and circular steelmaking. By the end of the project, the consortium aims to provide credible, industry-relevant solutions that can help accelerate the move towards climate-neutral steel production.
