Direct reduction of iron with hydrogen

Baseline strategy · No score

It reduces iron ore with low-emission hydrogen and melts the product into electric furnaces.

Subject: Steel and industryContext: Steel · Industry · Manufacture of steelCost: highEffort: highLevel: ambitiousStage: planning and operationMaturity: emerging
Principle of Reducción directa de hierro con hidrógeno
Operating principle

How it works

It reduces iron ore with low-emission hydrogen and melts the product into electric furnaces.

Steel improvement combines lower emission routes, material performance, energy efficiency and water, air and waste control.

When does it make sense?

  • The production route and quality required are known
  • Energy, material and emissions balance can be measured
  • Product safety and durability are maintained

How to apply it

  1. 1

    Delimit the measurement and measure the starting position.

  2. 2

    Apply the measure with competent personnel and check for site-specific risks.

  3. 3

    Follow results, maintain the solution and correct unwanted effects.

Potential benefits

Lower resource intensity

Less emissions or waste

Increased use of steel

Limitations and precautions

  • It requires proper ore, hydrogen really low in emissions and sufficient infrastructure.
  • An improvement per tonne can coexist with more total emissions.
  • The routes depend on scrap, electricity, mineral and infrastructure available.

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