(Salzgitter) – Salzgitter AG is starting to build a demonstration plant for the production of direct reduced iron (DRI). It can be flexibly operated with both natural gas and hydrogen. The project called “μDRAL” is part of SALCOS (Salzgitter Low CO2 Steelmaking) and is therefore “another building block for low-CO2 steel production,” according to the group.
However, the somewhat idiosyncratic neologism “μDRAL” could lead you in the wrong direction, because “µ” as a micro symbol usually denotes the minuteness of a quantity - this test facility, however, has a planned capacity of 2.500 tons per day. Production is flexible with varying proportions between zero and 100 percent natural gas and hydrogen and is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2022. Initially, the directly reduced iron will be used in the blast furnace process and in the electric arc furnace at the Peine plant, around 30 kilometers from the DRI site. The technology partner is Tenova, an international manufacturer of systems for the metal and mining industries. 
With the DRI system, the aim is to “gain the necessary knowledge to produce on a much larger scale in just a few years,” explains Heinz Jörg Fuhrmann, CEO of Salzgitter AG, at the groundbreaking ceremony. “Our industry will play an outstanding role in achieving the climate goals set if politicians now quickly implement the necessary economic policy framework for the transformation process.”
The complete transformation of steel production at Salzgitter AG towards hydrogen-based processes is to be implemented in several stages by 2050 at the latest. This reduces the production of CO2 in steel production by up to 95 percent. Part of the hydrogen is generated using electricity from specially built wind turbines (we reported).
The group is investing 13,6 million euros for the new DRI system. According to the information, the Federal Environment Ministry supports the project with a funding rate of 40 percent.
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Groundbreaking ceremony for the project called “μDRAL” in Salzgitter (from right): Gunnar Groebler, board member, Heinz Jörg Fuhrmann, chairman of the board, Ulrich Grethe, head of the flat steel division (all Salzgitter AG), Markus Dorndorf, Vice President Tenova Germany / © Salzgitter AG
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Schematic representation of the future DRI system © Salzgitter AG
