Project H2PlasmaRed

To achieve the Paris Agreement goal of limiting the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, it is necessary to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and gradually reach carbon neutrality in all industrial sectors. Iron and steelmaking industries alone account for around 5 % of CO₂ emissions in the EU and 7 % globally, primarily due to the use of fossil fuels such as coal and coke. Although steel is 100% recyclable, relying solely on recycling for new steel production cannot fully meet the increasing global demand for steel. Additionally, the accumulation of detrimental tramp elements in steel scrap, such as copper, presents a challenge to quality steel production.

This necessitates the need for both ore-based and scrap-based steel production processes, respectively involving the extraction of iron from natural ores and melting steel scraps. This requires developing and implementing disruptive metallurgical processes for steelmaking, especially ore-based steelmaking. Thus, novel sustainable approaches must be exploited and rapidly implemented already in the coming decades.

The main objective of H2PlasmaRed is to develop a green CO₂-free steelmaking route based on H₂-plasma technology while promoting a circular economy by valorizing industrial sidestreams to meet the targets of the European Green Deal for reducing CO₂ emissions in the steel industry across Europe. Our ambition is to introduce a near CO₂ free reduction process to strive for the goal of Paris Agreement – a 90 % reduction in the carbon intensity the steel production by 2050.