Sara Guazzi
PhD thesis title: High Temperature Electrolysis for the Decarbonization of the Iron and Steel Industry
Academic Tutor: Stefano Campanari
Academic Supervisors: Paolo Colbertaldo and Matteo Romano
PhD cycle: 40° (see all student profiles of the same cycle > LINK)
BSc: Energy Engineering, Università degli Studi di Padova
MSc: Energy Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
Thesis abstract
The iron and steel industry is a major CO2 emitter and among the hardest sectors to decarbonize. My PhD research focuses on the use of hydrogen produced via high-temperature electrolysis, whose potential for thermal integration makes it especially promising. Process simulations, supported by detailed component models, are developed to derive the mass and energy balances that feed the techno-economic assessment. On this basis, hydrogen-based options are compared with other low-emission technologies, including CCS and electrification, to identify how the optimal solutions vary across geographical, economic and technological scenarios.
Personal interest in my research theme
What draws me to the steel sector is the engineering complexity behind its decarbonization. Hard-to-abate industries have no easy solutions, and I enjoy working on problems that combine technical depth with real-world relevance. Developing rigorous process models to evaluate thermodynamic performance and techno-economic viability is a particularly stimulating challenge. Ultimately, this analytical approach allows me to provide the clear data needed to identify which low-emission configurations are actually viable for the industry.
