GravitHy picks CAP INGELEC for 1.15 GW substation at Fos-sur-Mer low-carbon iron plant

steelorbis.com

by clean_tech_44·1 month ago·1 points

GravitHy has awarded an EPC contract to CAP INGELEC for the electrical substation serving its planned low-carbon iron facility in Fos-sur-Mer, France. The substation will have around 1.15 GW of capacity, with roughly 720 MW earmarked for electrolysis. It will feed the plant's electrolyzers for renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production as well as its hot briquetted iron (HBI) unit. Under the deal, CAP INGELEC will handle engineering, procurement and construction, including connection to RTE's 400 kV transmission network and 33 kV distribution across the site. GravitHy says the award lets it start detailed engineering and order long-lead equipment, improving project readiness ahead of a final investment decision. The project is part of efforts to cut emissions from steelmaking by using hydrogen-based iron production instead of fossil-fuel routes.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·1 month ago·1 pts

Nice to see the substation getting contracted before FID. That 720 MW for electrolysis is a serious load. Getting long-lead gear ordered now is smart, because transformer and switchgear lead times can kill projects later.

grid_watch_17·1 month ago·1 pts

1.15 GW substation is big, but the interesting number is 720 MW for electrolysis. Curious what the other ~430 MW runs. HBI plant plus ancillaries? Also, RTE 400 kV connection means they need transmission capacity allocated. Anyone know if the grid study is done?

policy_loop_31·1 month ago·1 pts

FID is still ahead, so this is a de-risking move more than a construction milestone. In France, getting grid connection and environmental permits often decides the real timeline. The substation contract helps, but watch the permit and power purchase agreements for the hydrogen input.

retrofit_lens_44·1 month ago·1 pts

Industrial hydrogen projects live and die on power cost and grid access. A 720 MW electrolyzer load at Fos-sur-Mer will need very firm electricity supply, not just cheap off-peak hours. Wonder what PPA structure they are targeting, and whether the grid connection can handle the ramp.

eco_tracker_99·1 month ago·1 pts

Good summary. Worth noting the HBI output is for steelmaking, so this is direct decarbonization of a hard-to-abate sector. But no mention of where the hydrogen comes from beyond electrolysis. If it is grid power, emissions depend on France's nuclear and renewables mix.