CO2-neutral steel production with hydrogen, secondary carbon carriers and electricity OR innovative steel applications for low CO2 emissions (Clean Steel Partnership) (RIA)

Proposals should aim at one of the following two aspects, corresponding respectively to the points 1) and 2) outlined under the expected outcomes section:

1. Proposals should relate to metal reduction processes using hydrogen, renewable electricity, and/or secondary carbon carriers, and/or to replace fossil fuels and reductants in steelmaking and in downstream processing in steel plants. Proposals under this topic are expected to:

• Provide concepts addressing the modifications of the existing and new installations for steel production, such as:
  • Blast furnace–basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF);
  • Electric arc furnace (EAF);
  • Direct reduced iron (DRI) process: In this case, compare the feedstock’s iron content requirements necessary for the direct reduction process in comparison with other alternative processes (e.g. electrolysis);
  • Alternative reduction processes (such as electrolysis on non-conventional ores);
  • Heating and treatment of semi-finished products.
• Such modifications could also concern the internal and external flows of energy and materials to re-use e.g. metallurgical gases (internal re-cycling) and to upgrade them with new sources, e.g. by replacement of fossil carbon, both as reducing agent, and heat sources with hydrogen and alternative carbon sources;
• Consider the integrated preparation (reforming, separation, heating, compression) of external carbon-lean gases or internally recycled CO/CO₂ streams for efficient use as reducing agent, but not limited to or for use in heating process.

OR

1. Proposals should address the conception and production of clean steel for use in established markets and/or in markets having specific demanding or harsh environments. Of interest are steels and steel grades capable to demonstrate for instance high level of yield strength, high level of fatigue, high resistance to pressure, heat, wear, cyclic loads, crash and to severe corrosion conditions. The scope also covers the maximisation of low-quality materials usage and their influence on the product quality. Where appropriate for the study proposed, analytical research infrastructures, such as but not limited to synchrotron and/or neutron facilities, should be considered as capable of providing large amount of statistically relevant data to validate chemistry and structure / morphology and solve challenges concerning hydrogen embrittlement and/or residual stresses. Proposals should demonstrate the CO₂ reduction potential by conception along the advanced / breakthrough manufacturing routes and/or by the application of their innovative steel solution.

Research should contribute to pre-standardisation documents and technical reports to support achieving innovative industrial applications of advanced clean steel grades.

Specific budget needs to be allocated in the project for pursuing dissemination and exploitation activities with the Clean Steel Partnership (e.g. exchange of information, carbon reduction potential etc.).

This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on Clean Steel.