Hydrogen in the Ceramic Industry: MIXEO's role in the energy transition.
PRF has developed and implemented the MIXEO unit — an innovative technological solution that enables the controlled and safe blending of hydrogen with natural gas, making it suitable for demanding industrial applications such as continuous ceramic kiln firing.
This initiative represents a relevant milestone for the ceramic industry, and has been integrated into a facility equipped with an 87-metre-long tunnel kiln, with an annual production capacity of around 20 million pieces.
The MIXEO unit was designed to ensure:
- Precise measurement, control and regulation of the hydrogen ratio injected into the natural gas network;
- Operational safety throughout the mixing and distribution process;
- Flexibility, allowing for different hydrogen/natural gas blend ratios, depending on production requirements.
In this application, a 50% hydrogen and 50% natural gas blend was used, demonstrating the system’s ability to respond to both technical and environmental demands in a real production context.
This project aims to:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
- Assess energy consumption and product quality impacts;
- Foster the decarbonization of energy-intensive industrial processes, such as ceramic manufacturing.
PRF continues to lead in the energy transition, and this project showcases hydrogen’s potential as a safe, efficient and sustainable energy vector — not only for mobility and power generation, but also for the industrial sector.
MIXEO is more than a technical solution — it's a practical tool to accelerate carbon neutrality in industry.