Today, September 21st, is Zero Emissions Day (ZeDay), aimed at giving the world a break from fossil fuels and raising awareness about the damage caused by carbon emissions.
In this context, the steel industry is facing one of its biggest transformations: decarbonizing steel production. Among the most promising technological innovations is the use of hydrogen as a potential ‘game changer’.
Hydrogen could have three key roles in steelmaking: a substitute fuel for natural gas, a reducing agent as an alternative to coal, and a protector of steel from oxidation. Currently, the third application is the most widespread, although still with limited volumes.
The biggest challenges are related to producing hydrogen in sufficient quantities and at affordable costs, especially for so-called green hydrogen, which requires high amounts of electricity and fresh water to be produced through electrolysis; its availability, therefore, is one of the aspects that makes its usage prospects more uncertain.
A more realistic alternative is turquoise hydrogen derived from natural gas, which creates a lower environmental impact compared to coal but requires a secure and sustainable energy supply chain.
Although the prospects are still uncertain, the European Union is investing heavily in the creation of a Hydrogen Bank to support the production and import of renewable hydrogen.
What will truly determine its large-scale use? What are the prerequisites for it to be economically sustainable? These questions are answered by Professor Carlo Mapelli in the STEEL FOCUS podcast – Current and future trends of hydrogen in steelmaking.
