Green Hydrogen Process in Steel Production – H2 Green Steel

Swedish start-up H2 Green Steel aims to use green hydrogen in new steel plant; partnered with Thyssenkrupp nucera for construction.

Here’s what Innovation Origins has to offer regarding GH₂ in steel manufacturing:

• H2 Green Steel is a pioneering venture that aims to produce green steel with up to 95% reduced CO2 emissions compared to traditional steelmaking
• The company’s approach involves using green hydrogen in the direct reduction process of iron, which is expected to significantly contribute to decarbonization in the steel industry
• The fully integrated, digitalized, and circular plant in Boden, northern Sweden, will be the hub for H2 Green Steel’s green steel production, leveraging clean energy and cutting-edge technology

Let us briefly look into the process of making green steel, so that we understand how important it is in reducing emissions in the steel industry:

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1. Green Hydrogen Production: Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis, where water (H2O) is split into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) using electricity from renewable sources like wind or solar power. The efficiency of this process can vary depending on factors such as the type of electrolyzer used and the renewable energy source’s availability.
   • Efficiency: Electrolysis efficiency can range from 60% to over 80%, depending on the technology and scale of the electrolyzer. Advanced electrolysis technologies can achieve higher efficiencies.
   • Renewable Energy Integration: The amount of renewable energy used directly impacts the environmental benefits of green hydrogen production. Increasing the share of renewable energy in the electricity mix improves the overall sustainability of the process.
2. Iron Ore Reduction: In the traditional steelmaking process, iron ore is reduced using coke (a carbonaceous material) in a blast furnace. In the green steel production process, green hydrogen replaces coke as the reducing agent.
   • Reduction Reaction: The reduction reaction using hydrogen gas (H2) can be represented by the equation: Fe2O3 + 3H2 → 2Fe + 3H2O. This reaction produces iron (Fe) and water vapor (H2O) as byproducts, instead of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted in traditional methods.
   • Energy Requirements: The energy required for the reduction reaction depends on factors such as the iron ore’s composition and the desired purity of the final steel product.
3. Steel Production: The reduced iron (sponge iron) obtained from the reduction process is further processed in an electric arc furnace (EAF) or similar equipment to produce steel.
   • Energy Efficiency: Electric arc furnaces are known for their energy efficiency compared to blast furnaces, especially when powered by renewable electricity.
   • Emissions Reduction: By utilizing green hydrogen in the reduction process, the overall carbon footprint of steel production is significantly reduced. This reduction can vary depending on factors such as the share of green hydrogen used and the energy efficiency of the steelmaking equipment.
4. Byproduct Utilization: Water vapor produced during the iron ore reduction process can be captured and potentially reused within the production facility or released harmlessly into the atmosphere.
   • Environmental Impact: Minimizing the release of greenhouse gases and other pollutants into the environment is a key advantage of using green hydrogen in steel production.

Interestingly, we have some other posts related to this content:

1. Green Hydrogen in India’s Steel Industry – Jindal Stainless’s Projects: Jindal Stainless is pioneering the use of green hydrogen for sustainable steel production in India, with a pilot project in Hisar set to go live by December 2023.
2. BHP’s Hydrogen Furnace to Replace Coking Coal in Steelmaking: BHP plans to develop an electric smelting furnace (ESF) that uses hydrogen to replace coking coal, marking a significant step towards “green steel”
3. Hydrogen Blast Furnace for Steel Production – by Cleveland-Cliffs: Cleveland-Cliffs has taken a groundbreaking step by injecting hydrogen into a blast furnace, making it the first in the USA to produce “clean pig iron” for high-end steel without sacrificing quality.
4. Hydrogen Injection For Green Steel Production – by Tata Steel: Tata Steel in India has initiated a trial with a hydrogen blast furnace, slashing CO2 emissions and paving the way for greener steel production.