ANFFECC presents the final results of the H2frit project, confirming the technical feasibility of melting frits with hydrogen

The project, subsidised by Generalitat Valenciana and developed together with Esmalglass-Itaca, bp, Carburos Metálicos (Air Products Group) and ITC, concludes with very positive results and strengthens the innovative leadership of the frits and ceramic glazes sector

Castellón, December 1, 2025. – The National Association of Manufacturers of Frits, Glazes and Ceramic Colours (ANFFECC) today held an event to present the final results of the H2frit project, at which the main advances and conclusions of this sector-wide initiative were unveiled. The project is pioneering in the application of hydrogen as a fuel in the melting of ceramic frits and is subsidised by Generalitat Valenciana as a Strategic Industrial Project.

The event, held at the Institute of Ceramic Technology (Castellón), was attended by representatives of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism, the Provincial Council of Castellón and the project partners—Esmalglass, bp, Carburos Metálicos (Air Products Group) and the Institute of Ceramic Technology (ITC)—among other entities, as well as numerous ANFFECC member companies.

During the event, the final results after three years of research were presented, confirming that melting frits with hydrogen is technically feasible while maintaining the same quality, fusibility and stability of the final product as with natural gas. This advance represents a landmark technological milestone at the international level, reinforcing the leadership of the Castellón industry in innovation, sustainability and technological development.

ANFFECC’s Secretary General, Manuel Breva, stated: “The H2frit project demonstrates that our sector has the technological capacity and the necessary commitment to move towards decarbonisation. We have proven that it is possible to produce with hydrogen, but the possibility of real deployment will depend on external factors such as security of supply, the existence of adequate infrastructures, a regulatory framework and competitive prices compared to natural gas.”

“The technology is ready, but for it to be viable we need a structural environment and a defined industrial policy that allows us to compete on equal terms with other countries. Sustainability will only be possible if it is accompanied by a realistic decarbonisation pathway for industry,” he insisted.

The partners also expressed their satisfaction with the results obtained. In this regard, Bernd Högemann, CEO of the Altadia Group, noted: “For us, having participated—through Esmalglass-Itaca, a company of the Altadia Group—in an innovative and technological project like H2frit demonstrates our ability to transform the sector’s challenges into solutions leading to a responsible industry that respects the environment. Thanks to collaboration with the other partners, we have been able to verify that, together, we are capable of driving real changes that bring value not only to the economy, but also to the environment and society. This is a step we are proud of and one that confirms that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand to build a better future.”

From bp, Juan Peñalver stated: “We have contributed our technical knowledge in the use of hydrogen to drive the development of this pioneering project, which reinforces our commitment to the decarbonisation of industry in Castellón. This initiative adds to the construction of our 25 MW electrolysis plant at the Castellón refinery, a strategic project that marks a key advance in the energy transition and the production of renewable hydrogen at industrial scale in the region.”

Yolanda Reig, Director-General of the Institute of Ceramic Technology, said: “Our commitment to decarbonisation and to transferring the knowledge generated to companies and business associations is firm. We have made qualified personnel and infrastructures available to this project, in which we have invested more than €3.5 million in recent years. We therefore consider it a success to demonstrate the technical feasibility of a project of such magnitude as H2frit, and we will continue working together to make its deployment a reality.”

Over its three years (2023–2025), the project has made it possible to validate the technical feasibility of the use of hydrogen in high-temperature processes, generate technical knowledge transferable to the whole sector and serve as an example of public-private collaboration, thanks to cooperation between the Administration, companies and technology centres, coordinated by a business association.

H2frit has also enjoyed notable national and international visibility, with participation in forums and congresses such as World Hydrogen Week 2024 (Copenhagen); the 1st and 2nd National Hydrogen Congresses (Huelva, 2024 and 2025); RENMAD Hydrogen 2025 (Zaragoza); Why H₂ 2025 (Madrid); World Hydrogen & Renewables Iberia 2025 (Madrid); the New Energy Investor Summit 2025 (Switzerland); and PMH2 (Madrid), among others.

In 2025, H2frit received the RENMAD Hydrogen Innovation Award and the COPE Castellón Innovation Award, distinctions that endorse its pioneering nature and contribution to industrial decarbonisation.

In addition, ANFFECC recalled that the H2frit project is part of a broader sectoral decarbonisation strategy, which includes the development of the Sector Decarbonisation Roadmap, currently under way, and which analyses other complementary solutions such as heat recovery, CO₂ capture and use, electrification of certain processes, or the use of renewable gases such as biomethane.

With this global approach, the association seeks to offer the sector a realistic and viable map for the energy transition that combines innovation, sustainability and competitiveness.