The Iris Ceramica Group and Edison Next, a subsidiary of the Edison Group, have jointly announced a revolutionary breakthrough: they have successfully produced the world's first ceramic plate with 4D technology using a mixture of green hydrogen that derived from renewable energy and natural gas.

The ceramic plate is 3.2 meters in length, 1.6 meters in width and 12 millimeters in thickness. It not only excels in the three-dimensionality of its material particles, but also achieves a qualitative leap in sustainability, so it is also known as 4D Ceramic.

Iris Ceramics Group is a leader in innovative solutions and high-end technical ceramic plates for the global design, furniture and construction markets. The company has always been committed to driving industry progress through technological innovation to meet the market’s demand for environmentally friendly, beautiful and high-performance products. The launch of the green hydrogen ceramic plate is a major breakthrough on the road of sustainable development of Iris company.

The production base of the ceramic plate is a hydrogen-powered plant located in Castellarano, Reggio Emilia, Italy, which was completed in 2023. The plant has already been equipped with the innovative technologies and infrastructures required to use 100% green hydrogen. This collaboration marks the first solid step for Iris Ceramica and Edison Next in promoting the decarbonization of the ceramic industry.

On the one hand, Giovanni Brianza, CEO of Edison Next, stressed: "This is not only a concrete step towards the transformation of the net zero emissions in the energy-intensive industrial sector, but it is also a success in technology and innovation, skill and determination."

We are honored to carry out this poineering work with the best in Italian manufacturing, which is not only a support for the industry, but also a promotion of a new industrial culture for the country and a sustainable development." This is both an opportunity for change and a powerful tool to enhance market competitiveness.

On the other hand, Federica Minozzi, the CEO of Iris Ceramica, has said: "The achievement of today is a strong demonstration of our commitment to decarbonising the ceramic industry. This project has set a global precedent, providing a viable solution to the challenge of reducing emissions in traditional manufacturing and demonstrating the feasibility of change."

She further pointed out that the testing phase will optimize the production process. Through the Edison Next's customized production system, they gradually increase the proportion of green hydrogen usage, with the ultimate goal of reaching 50%. "We are very proud of this landmark cooperation, which is not only a result of supply chain teamwork, but also a model of sustainable practice. We look forward to more companies following suit and working together to promote the green transformation on a global scale."

The first phase of the project has successfully completed a number of preparatory works, including civil works, installation of mixing devices and interplant connections. In addition, a photovoltaic power generation system has been added to further enhance the green energy supply capacity of the plant. At present, the pilot production plant has entered the trial operation stage, using two electrolyzers with a total power of 120 KW, up to 20 cubic meters of green hydrogen can be produced per hour to power the ceramic kiln. The mix ratio ofgreen hydrogen can initially reach 7%. In the future, the ratio will increase with the comprehensive upgrade of the plant.

In the coming months, Edison Next will begin to install the final systems, including a green hydrogen production plant with a capacity of 1 MW. The estimated annual output is 132 tons, enough to support the kiln to run on a methane and green hydrogen, with a maximum mix ratio of about 50%. This move is expected to reduce natural gas consumption by around 500,000 cubic meters per year and avoid around 900 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and laying a solid foundation for future research into all-hydrogen kilns at the same time.

(SOURCE: Ceramic World Web)