Tenova, a prominent global supplier of advanced technologies and equipment for the steel and mining industries, has recently announced its involvement in a groundbreaking Italian project aimed at producing steel using 100% hydrogen. This initiative, supported by €88m of NextGenerationEU funding, is poised to revolutionize steel production in Europe and significantly reduce carbon emissions.
The project, known as RINA’s Hydra project, will receive a 30m direct reduction iron (DRI) tower and electric arc furnace (EAF) from Tenova. The DRI tower will utilize the innovative ENERGIRON® DRI technology, a result of collaboration between Tenova and Danieli. This cutting-edge technology is also expected to be installed at Nippon Steel Corporation’s Hasaki R&D centre in Japan, further demonstrating its global impact.
By 2025, the DRI plant and EAF are projected to produce up to seven tonnes of steel per hour at full production capacity. This will provide European steelmakers with the opportunity to explore various combinations of natural gas and hydrogen, offering them a chance to significantly reduce their emissions. Roberto Pancaldi, CEO of Tenova, emphasized that this project will enable European steelmakers to test the DRI process and make informed decisions regarding their future investments aimed at reducing emissions.
The DRI process is a key component of the project, utilizing feedstocks such as coal or natural gas to react with oxygen in iron ore, ultimately producing reduced iron which can then be processed into steel. By incorporating green hydrogen into the process, steelmakers can reduce CO2 emissions by over 95%. Carlo Luzzatto, CEO and General Manager at RINA, highlighted the environmental significance of this new plant, emphasizing that it will emit just a “marginal fraction” of the CO2 emissions released by the global steel industry.
The need to revolutionize steel production is underscored by its significant contribution to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, accounting for 8% of total emissions. With approximately 1.4 tonnes of CO2 emitted per tonne of steel produced, the urgency to address environmental concerns within the steel industry is clear. Traditional steelmaking processes, such as blast furnace-basic oxygen furnaces (BF-BOF), have been identified as major contributors to CO2 emissions from steel production. However, the direct reduction of iron (DRI) process, with the incorporation of green hydrogen, has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by over 95%, presenting a promising solution to the environmental challenges associated with steel production.
In conclusion, Tenova’s contribution to the Italian hydrogen-based steel project represents a significant step towards sustainable and environmentally-conscious steel production. By leveraging innovative DRI technology and embracing green hydrogen, this project has the potential to revolutionize the steel industry and set a new standard for environmentally-friendly steel manufacturing processes. As the global community continues to prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility, initiatives such as this will play a crucial role in driving positive change within the steel industry.
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