ELC 2026
The ENERGIRON Licensees Conference (ELC) 2026 served as a highly technical forum dedicated to advancing the exchange of expertise and innovation regarding ENERGIRON, a Direct Reduction Iron (DRI) technology jointly developed by Tenova and Danieli. Since its first edition in 2008, this biennial event has been a platform to share experiences, discuss emerging trends and collaborate on the future of low-emission steel production.
Stefano Maggiolino, President & CEO of Tenova HYL, and Marco Lapasin, Vice President of Danieli Centro Metallics, opened the three-day conference in Rome, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and continuous innovation in supporting the steel industry's transition toward more sustainable production routes.
The conference featured presentations from leading organizations including World Steel Dynamics, Rio Tinto, NALCO and ENERGIRON Licensees from around the world. Topics ranged from DRI, steel market developments, iron ore pellet supply and water management strategies to hydrogen-based ironmaking, electrical process gas heating technologies, carbon capture solutions and renewable energy integration, reflecting the industry's continued focus on innovation, sustainability, safety, and operational excellence.
Technical sessions further deepened the discussion, with licensees sharing operational experiences and the ENERGIRON team presenting the latest process developments aimed at enhancing efficiency, flexibility and environmental performance.
The conference concluded with a technical roundtable focused on the opportunities and challenges facing the DRI industry and the future evolution of the technology.
On the final day, attendees visited RINA's HYDRA demonstration plant to explore hydrogen technologies and their potential role in the decarbonization of energy-intensive industries, while also highlighting the importance of collaboration across the entire value chain, from research and development to full-scale industrial implementation.
“These three days at the ENERGIRON Licensees Conference have been truly outstanding! We are proud to see how our ENERGIRON family is growing,” stated Stefano Maggiolino, President & CEO of Tenova HYL. “We had the opportunity to exchange innovative ideas, share best practices, and celebrate significant achievements in safety, operational reliability, and plant performance. The discussions once again demonstrated the strength of the ENERGIRON community and the value of collaboration in driving continuous improvement and technological advancement.”
Marco Lapasin, Vice President of Danieli Centro Metallics said “ENERGIRON plants have established themselves as a benchmark in the DRI industry, delivering outstanding performance, high reliability, and operational efficiency. These strengths are essential to enabling our customers to remain competitive and profitable in an increasingly challenging market environment. Our achievements reflect a shared commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and the continuous development of solutions that create tangible value for our customers. A great conference, a strong partnership, and a shared vision for the future of direct reduction.”