voestalpine AG (Linz, Austria):

J. Prammer, Head of Strategic Direction of Environment Management, e-mail: johann.prammer@voestalpine.com

Gradual decarbonization with complete elimination of carbon dioxide emissions in the prospect, owing to hydrogen usage, is the principal policy of voestalpine company policy aimed on achievement of acceptable ecological parameters. The new direct reduction unit in Texas, USA, is planned to be used by voestalpine as a transition technology, where natural gas replaces coal/coke. In such way hot-briquetted iron (HBI) or briquetted sponge iron is produced on the base of direct reduced iron (DRI). This technology provides decrease of CO₂ emission at Linz and Donawitz plants bu up to 5%.The next steps in this direction are connected with development of direct reduction processes using hydrogen instead of natural gas and reducing melting using plasma for steelmaking also with hydrogen instead of coal/coke. It is known that electric power is strictly required for hydrogen production. At present time hydrogen is practically completely produced from organic raw materials, i.e. via reforming of natural gas and manufacture of synthetic gas. In this connection, the new project H2Future was suggested for manufacture of “green” hydrogen from water, i.e. using renewable power sources. This technology is based on the PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane)-technology and is planned to be realized until 2021.

1. Boston Consulting Group: CO₂-Bilanz Stahl, Ein Beitrag zum Klimaschutz, Studie 2013, stahl-online.de