Project description
A steel path to climate neutrality
Achieving climate-neutral steel production by 2050 and combating the carbon footprint of steel manufacturing is vital for Europe. With the support of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the HELIOS project will train 10 doctoral candidates in cutting-edge technologies for hydrogen-based green steel production. In collaboration with industry leaders like Tata Steel and prestigious universities, the intersectoral programme confronts technical and economic challenges in transitioning to hydrogen-based steel manufacturing. From refining engineering processes to pioneering hydrogen-plasma smelting reduction methods, HELIOS will transform both carbon and stainless steel production. With a steadfast commitment to expertise and sustainability, HELIOS is forging the experts essential for the future of steel manufacturing.
Objective
The HELIOS Doctoral Network will train 10 motivated and talented Doctoral Candidates (DCs) in breakthrough technologies for the hydrogen-based production of green steel, including both carbon steel and stainless steel. These DCs will be equipped with the necessary science capital and diverse transferable skills to pursue their careers in Europe and become the experts that our society needs to achieve the climate-neutral production of steel by 2050. The intersectoral training programme is dedicated to the technical and economic challenges and innovative developments associated with the transition to hydrogen-based green-steel production. The combination of state-of-the-art doctoral research projects, intersectoral secondments and supervision by leading companies (Tata Steel, SSAB Europe Oy, Aperam Stainless Europe, Heraeus Electro-Nite International and LUXMET), universities (KU Leuven, TU Delft, University of OULU, MU Leoben) and competence centres (K1-MET) will be the foundations of HELIOS’s success. HELIOS targets in 3 interconnected scientific work packages to (1) engineer processes and develop models to leverage the hydrogen-based steel production route to the same state-of-the-art level as the BF-BOF route for carbon steel; (2) develop first-of-a-kind hydrogen-plasma smelting reduction processes for stainless steel production; (3) design and evaluate innovative hydrogen and/or hydrogen plasma-based processes to recover and separate metals from stainless steel residues; and (4) develop measuring and analysis tools and models supporting the application of hydrogen-based processes for steel production.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN - HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral NetworksCoordinator
3000 Leuven
Belgium