Milan/Fiorano Modenese— Iris Ceramica Group, an Italian ceramic slab supplier and holding company of U.S.-based manufacturing facility Stonepeak Ceramics, partnered with Edison Next, a company of Edison Group that leads clients and territories in its decarbonization and ecological transition journey, to develop H2 Factory. H2 Factory is a new production plant based in Castellarano (province of Reggio Emilia, Northern Italy), which will entirely use green hydrogen–powered by renewable energy and produced using a pioneering, bespoke system.
With this agreement, Iris Ceramica Group and Edison Next are launching the first project for the decarbonization of the ceramic industry using green hydrogen. This initiative marks the start of a new journey toward the decarbonization of a particularly energy-intensive industrial sector, which is a crucial contribution for achieving the energy transition objectives of both Italy and the ceramic district.
The ceramic district, concentrated between the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia, is a strategic area of this production sector. Skill, technology, innovation and determination to believe in a virtuous path toward decarbonization are the key elements of the first “green” ceramic industry.
“The start of this virtuous energy transition path with Iris Ceramica Group is the first significant step toward the decarbonization of a key sector for the country,” said Giovanni Brianza, Edison Next CEO. “Iris Ceramica Group represents an excellence of Italian manufacturing around the world, and its history shows the ability to tackle and win this challenge.
“For energy-intensive sectors, decarbonization means having the courage to rethink processes, intervening in the heart of production systems through the introduction of innovative technologies to guarantee environmental sustainability, as well as the competitive performance of the sector in the international markets. This project, based on the production and use of green hydrogen in an industrial sector, is part of Edison’s strategy, which is investing in this energy vector through several projects for the benefit of industrial clients.”