CUSTARD

The CUSTARD project (Carbon Capture and Use at a Steel plant with an Advanced solution to Reach Decarbonisation) is an EU Innovation Fund–supported CCU initiative located in Italy and coordinated by Acciaierie Bertoli Safau SpA. The project will capture approximately 13,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year from reheating furnace flue gases at a steel plant and convert it into sodium bicarbonate, a high-value commercial chemical product, using an integrated carbon capture and chemical conversion process. CUSTARD is designed to achieve a 40% CO₂-equivalent emissions reduction compared to conventional bicarbonate production methods and is expected to avoid 179,040 tonnes of CO₂e over its operational lifetime. The project leverages green caustic soda produced via renewable electrolysis, waste heat recovery, and a three-phase reactor system to produce food-grade sodium bicarbonate without generating by-products. Construction begins in July 2024, financial close is planned for March 2027, and commercial operation is targeted for March 2029. The project received €4.15 million in Innovation Fund support and includes technology partner Danieli & C Officine Meccaniche SpA, with scalability potential across Europe’s steel and other hard-to-abate industrial sectors