Enrico Salvatore, Project Manager at RINA Consulting in Genoa, has a background in chemical engineering and combines strong technical knowledge with a passion for sustainability. Before joining RINA, he studied at the University of Genoa and went on to complete a second master’s degree in Sustainable Energy Systems at Queen Mary University of London. His professional journey began in the renewable energy sector, focusing on solar PV and wind technologies, making his current work in industrial sustainability a natural next step.
Enrico, could you start by telling us a bit about your role in the HEPHAESTUS project?
Sure! I’m the coordinator of the HEPHAESTUS project, representing RINA Consulting based in Genoa. I’ve been with RINA for about three and a half years now, and actually, I jumped into the HEPHAESTUS project as soon as I joined.
Why is HEPHAESTUS so important right now?
The steel industry produces an enormous amount of waste, especially dust from steelmaking, which is not only hazardous but also still contains valuable raw materials like critical raw materials (CRMs). Right now, most of this dust just ends up in landfills. That’s a huge environmental issue and a lost opportunity from a resource point of view.
HEPHAESTUS aims to offer a modular recycling solution that can be implemented directly in steel plants. It is designed to reduce the environmental impact of steel production and recover materials that would otherwise go to waste. The primary stakeholders of the project are the steel producers, both in Europe and globally.
How is the project progressing?
The project duration is 54 months, and we are now approaching month 36, so we are getting close to the final phase. Research and development activities are running on schedule, which I am really happy about. Many of the lab-scale tests have already been completed, and we are currently preparing for the pilot tests.
What are some of the most promising outcomes of HEPHAESTUS so far?
As the coordinator, my role is more managerial than technical, so for deep details on process feasibility, our technical experts would be the best people to ask. But I can say that some modules of the project are already showing strong potential.
For instance, zinc recycling is definitely achievable; that part is looking solid. Producing byproducts out of steelmaking dust also works pretty well. For example, producing mineral wool via our fiberization line is already at TRL 8, so quite an advanced technology.
What are you most proud of within Hephaestus?
HEPHAESTUS is the first major project I have coordinated, and I am really proud of how smoothly it is progressing. Of course, we have faced challenges, but we have managed to overcome them thanks to our strong, committed team.
What I am most proud of, though,the collaboration among the partners. Everyone is really active, responsible, and technically skilled. It is not always easy to get that kind of engagement, especially in a big consortium!
Where can people access the results of the project after its completion?
The results will be shared in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and we will also make them available on the HEPHAESTUS website. We are also using our social media channels to keep people updated, especially as we move into the piloting phase.
In your view, what are the key aspects that make a project truly successful?
For me, one of the most important factors is how well the project is structured from the very beginning. In the case of HEPHAESTUS, it was very well structured from the start, thanks to the strong engagement and expertise of all the partners involved. We have also managed to strike an effective balance between industrial players and research institutions, which has been key.
