Last Friday, October 4th, Grestel, part of the COSTA NOVA Industria Group, achieved a significant milestone by conducting the first utility ceramic firing in an industrial kiln powered by 50% hydrogen, a first in Portugal and Europe.
This achievement, the result of a partnership with Fusion-Fuel, HyLab, and Induzir, marks a significant step in our commitment to sustainability and carbon neutrality, well ahead of the 2050 targets.
During the process, the Grestel I kiln fired 250 pieces with excellent results, showing only minor variations in tone and gloss, which are easily correctable. This outcome reinforces our confidence in the innovative technologies we are adopting.
Even better news: the hydrogen consumption was much lower than expected, improving energy efficiency and significantly reducing harmful gas emissions. This positions us at the forefront of sustainable practices in the ceramics industry, with positive environmental and operational impacts.