Posted on 22 Aug 2023
HyIron, a venture between TS Group and LSF Energy, has started up what it says is the world’s largest hydrogen direct reduction (DRI) plant for the production of green iron, in Lingen, Germany.
TS Group describes itself as a pioneer in technical solutions in the field of fuel cells, batteries, and industrial furnaces, while LSF Energy has many years of experience in the generation of renewable energies.
HyIron’s associated partners in the project are energy group RWE and tubemaker Benteler Steel/Tube. The plant is located on the site of RWE’s branch in the Emsland region in Lower Saxony, chosen for its high density of hydrogen projects.
The partners are planning the use of sponge iron in steel production from 2024, Kallanish understands. This will then be melted down with steel scrap and further processed into steel. Benteler Steel/Tube wants to use the steel produced in Lingen to make low-CO2 tubes. The first step in the research project is to produce 1 tonne/hour of iron using green hydrogen.
The process uses a proprietary gas-tight rotary kiln in which the hydrogen reacts completely with the oxygen in the iron ore and converts it into direct reduced iron. In the future, the green hydrogen for HyIron will be produced in RWE’s 14-megawatt pilot electrolysis plant, which is expected to start operating directly next to the direct reduction plant at the end of 2023.
Green hydrogen has enormous potential to help decarbonise the iron and steel industry by primarily by replacing coal.
Source:Kallanish
