Tata Steel and Welspun Corp Develop Hydrogen Transportation Pipes

First Indian companies to produce ERW pipes for pure hydrogen transport.

Tata Steel and Welspun Corp have successfully manufactured Electric Resistance Welded (ERW) pipes for the transportation of pure hydrogen, marking a significant milestone in India’s green energy sector.

JAMSHEDPUR – Tata Steel and Welspun Corp have become the first Indian companies to manufacture ERW pipelines for the transportation of gaseous hydrogen.

The objective of the collaboration, which was formalized in a 2022 memorandum of understanding, was to create API X65 H grade pipelines that are hydrogen-compliant via the ERW Pipe route.

These pipes successfully completed critical tests for corrosive service and fracture qualification under high pressure at RINA, Italy.

Tata Steel is the first Indian steel mill to produce hot-rolled steel for hydrogen transport, and Welspun Corp is the first Indian pipe factory to produce ERW pipes.

The companies’ Green Energy Strategic Partnership is consistent with India’s green hydrogen policy.

"This milestone with Welspun Corp advances our journey toward clean energy solutions, laying the groundwork for a robust hydrogen infrastructure and ecosystem," stated Prabhat Kumar, VP of Marketing & Sales (Flat Products) at Tata Steel.

Vipul Mathur, managing director and chief executive officer of Welspun Corp, stated, "Our partnership with Tata Steel promotes green hydrogen usage, aligning with our efforts to embed ESG drivers across our businesses and support the Government’s vision for a net-zero economy by 2070."

The 2022 MOU between Tata Steel and Welspun Corp marked the beginning of the initiative, which aimed to create hydrogen-compliant pipelines. Welspun Corp’s LSAW pipelines had also successfully completed all of the requisite qualification tests for hydrogen transport by October 2022.

Tata Steel’s dedication to industrial decarbonization is demonstrated through a variety of initiatives, including the implementation of COG Injection Technology at their Meramandali Blast Furnace, the trial of hydrogen gas injection at their Jamshedpur Works, and ongoing endeavors to enhance carbon capture and utilization, increase scrap charge in blast furnaces, and establish sustainable supply chains.