Project description
A green solution for steelmaking
In the steel industry, carbon emissions are a pressing concern, constituting a significant portion of global greenhouse gases. Conventional methods of iron ore reduction contribute heavily to this pollution, hindering efforts to combat climate change. In this context, the EU-funded H2PlasmaRed project will develop hydrogen plasma smelting reduction (HPSR) technology. By pioneering this approach, H2PlasmaRed aims to revolutionise steelmaking, drastically reducing CO2 emissions. This aligns with the European Green Deal's goals and the Paris Agreement's vision for a 90 % carbon intensity reduction in steel production by 2050. Through pilot-scale demonstrations and innovative sensor implementation, H2PlasmaRed charts a course toward industrial-scale adoption, heralding a greener future for steelmaking.
Objective
The main objective of H2PlasmaRed is to develop hydrogen plasma smelting reduction (HPSR) technology for the reduction of iron ores and steelmaking sidestreams to meet the targets of the European Green Deal for reducing CO2 emissions and supporting the circular economy in the steel industry across Europe. Our ambition is to introduce a near CO2-free reduction process to support the goal of the Paris Agreement - a 90% reduction in the carbon intensity of steel production by 2050. To achieve this, H2PlasmaRed will develop HPSR from TRL5 to TRL7 by demonstrating the HPSR in a pilot-HPSR reactor (hundred-kilogram-scale) that is an integrated part of a steel plant, and in a pilot-scale DC electric arc furnace (5-ton scale) by retrofitting the existing furnace. The project's end goal is to establish a way to upscale the process from pilot-scale into industrial practice. To support this goal, the novel sensors and models developed and implemented in the project are used for HPSR process optimization from a reduction, resource, and energy efficiency standpoint.
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Funding Scheme
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation ActionsCoordinator
90014 Oulu
Finland