- Nippon Steel commits to pioneering a hydrogen-based direct iron reduction technology with substantial financial backing and strategic collaborations.
Nippon Steel Corporation, in conjunction with the Research and Development Center for Metallic Materials, has announced the acceptance of their proposal titled “Development of high-efficiency melting technology using an electric melting furnace using directly reduced iron” by the National Research and Development Corporation New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
This project, chosen as a part of the “Green Innovation Fund Project/Hydrogen Utilization Project in Steel Manufacturing Process,” aims to dramatically decrease carbon emissions from steel manufacturing processes by 2030 through innovative hydrogen utilization.
This groundbreaking initiative received funding under the “Green Innovation Fund,” established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on December 25, 2020. The fund was designed to foster a sustainable economic-environmental synergy as outlined in the “Green Growth Strategy for Carbon Neutrality in 2050.” Nippon Steel and its partners plan to leverage this support to transition away from traditional fossil fuel-based processes to hydrogen-based direct reduction of low-grade iron ore.
Project Details and Ambitions:
- Investment Focus: The project is backed by an impressive 23 billion yen (NEDO support scale) and is scheduled from 2024 to 2028.
- Technology Development: The initiative aims to develop direct hydrogen reduction technology that minimizes the use of fossil fuels across all steelmaking processes, from iron ore reduction to electric melting furnaces and converters.
- Environmental Impact: By implementing this new technology, Nippon Steel targets a reduction in CO2 emissions by more than 50% within the decade.
The project’s broader goal is to establish a more sustainable, efficient, and environmentally friendly steel manufacturing process by integrating hydrogen reduction and electric melting techniques. This approach not only aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly but also enhances the quality of by-products like slag to levels suitable for domestic cement production.
This initiative marks a major step forward in Nippon Steel’s commitment to sustainability and innovation in the steel industry, aligning with global environmental targets and Japan’s carbon neutrality goals for 2050.
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