(Luxembourg/Quebec) – The Luxembourg-based steel group ArcelorMittal SA says it has “successfully completed” tests for the production of direct reduced iron (DRI) with green hydrogen in Contrecoeur, Quebec, Canada. The energy source was produced externally using electrolysis and then transported to the steelworks. The aim was to investigate to what extent and to what extent green hydrogen can replace the natural gas previously used in the reduction process.
Further tests with increased hydrogen content
In the first test, 24 percent of natural gas was replaced with hydrogen over a 6,8-hour period, contributing to a measurable reduction in CO2 emissions. This is "a major step forward" and "an important milestone" in the company's journey to producing zero-carbon steel, as the iron ore reduction process alone accounts for more than 75 percent of ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada's (AMLPC) total CO2 emissions. contributes.
AMLPC plans to conduct further research in the coming months by increasing the use of green hydrogen at the DRI plant with a view to eventually reducing CO2 emissions at Contrecoeur by several hundred thousand tons per year, the company said.
The group wants to reduce CO2 emissions by 2030 percent by 25
The steel company also wants to use the direct reduction of iron ore in Europe. This is how the company operates in Hamburg a plant with a DRI system and electric arc furnace, where the conversion to the use of hydrogen is being prepared. The two blast furnaces in Bremen and Eisenhüttenstadt are being converted to natural gas, and ArcelorMittal also wants to use hydrogen in Bremen later.
In addition, the company says it is investing one billion euros in the production of directly reduced iron ore using green hydrogen at its plant in northern Spain Gijón (Asturias) and a new hybrid electric arc furnace. The iron is processed into emission-free flat steel at the steelworks further east in Sestao, near Bilbao, in the Basque region.
ArcelorMittal has set itself the goal of reducing its global CO2 emissions by 2030 percent by 25 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Photos
ArcelorMittal steelworks in Contrecoeur, Canada. © ArcelorMittal SA
