Mission
Study of the technical feasibility of replacing natural gas with hydrogen as fuel in the melting of ceramic frits and analyzing the influence of hydrogen on process variables and on the quality of the final product
Vision
Explore the use of low or carbon-neutral fuels that help decarbonize energy-intensive industries such as ceramic frits.
H2frit It is a pioneering project whose central purpose has evaluated the technical feasibility of replacing natural gas with hydrogen as fuel in the melting of ceramic frits using an oxy-combustion furnace. The study has had the following specific objectives analyze the impact of hydrogen on the process variables, as well as verify that the quality of the final product remains unchanged, even under combustion conditions with increasing percentages of hydrogen up to 100%.
The results obtained are conclusive: fusing frits with hydrogen is technically feasible, maintaining equivalent standards of meltability, stability, and final product properties compared to the conventional natural gas process. This advancement represents a technological milestone of international renown and consolidates the innovative leadership of the Spanish ceramic sector in decarbonization, sustainability, and industrial R&D.
Three years of research with a leading consortium
The project, developed between 2023 and 2025, was coordinated by ANFFECC (National Association of Manufacturers of Frits, Glazes and Ceramic Colors) and carried out in collaboration with Carburos Metálicos (Air Products Group), Esmalglass-Itaca, bp, and ITC-AICE. During this period, work was conducted on both technical and scientific studies and real-world combustion tests, resulting in robust and transferable knowledge for the entire sector.
Carburos Metálicos supplied the hydrogen used and actively participated in the design, installation, and operation of the pilot system. A [unclear - possibly "a facility" or similar device] was built to carry out the tests.pilot oven equipped with a specific burner, capable of operating with progressive mixtures of hydrogen up to 100% in combustion, an unprecedented milestone in the ceramics industry.
The tests concluded that the fuel substitution does not generate, under the evaluated conditions, significant changes in the melting behavior or in the properties of the glazed products, which confirms the technological robustness of the process.
International projection and sector recognition
H2frit has had a prominent national and international presence thanks to its participation in leading forums and congresses such as World Hydrogen Week 2024 (Copenhagen), National Hydrogen Congresses I and II (Huelva), RENMAD Hydrogen 2025 (Zaragoza), Why H₂ 2025 (Madrid), World Hydrogen & Renewables Iberia 2025 (Madrid), the New Energy Investor Summit 2025 (Switzerland) or PMH2 (Madrid), among others.
The project has been recognized with the RENMAD 2025 Hydrogen Innovation Award and the COPE Castellón Innovation Award, distinctions that underline its pioneering nature and its direct contribution to industrial decarbonization.
