„Green steel“ initiative: cutting carbon with H2Syngas

As part of the joint H2Syngas project, the steel companies intend to continue working with Paul Wurth to develop the technology of using own process gases for a blast furnace of ROGESA Roheisengesellschaft Saar mbH, a subsidiary of Dillinger and Saarstahl. The new so called dry reforming process developed by Paul Wurth enables the gas produced in the coke oven to be converted into a hot reduction gas, or “syngas”. This gas is enriched with hydrogen and then used as a reducing agent for the reduction of iron ores. Injecting the hot reducing gas into the blast furnace leads to a significant reduction in coke consumption and thus to a reduction in carbon emissions.

“The use of process gases for metallurgical purposes makes it possible to cut carbon emissions by up to 12 percent,” explains Dr. Karl-Ulrich Köhler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Dillinger and Saarstahl. “By using hydrogen, we can further improve and actually nearly double the potential reduction of carbon. The creation of an adequate energy infrastructure is a precondition for this.” Köhler added: "With the H2Syngas innovation project, we are rigorously pursuing the path toward green steel production.”

H2Syngas is one of the leading projects of the cross-border hydrogen project in the Saar region, which is seeking IPCEI funding from the German government. The aim of the individual projects is to establish a green hydrogen economy in Saarland, France and Luxembourg. The various sub-projects are collectively initiating a sustainable transformation process in industry and in the mobility sector. The emission-free technologies that are emerging from this are driving structural change in the border region. As industrial customers, the Saarland steel companies Dillinger and Saarstahl are playing a key role here in the strategic development.

The first phase of the project will involve construction of a pilot plant to test the dry reforming process on a small scale. For the development and construction of this pilot plant the Luxembourg Ministry of Economy awarded Paul Wurth a grant under the applicable R&D aid scheme. The pilot plant is scheduled to be begin operating in the summer of 2021. In the next project phases, the process will be further developed to semi-industrial and later to industrial scale with support from public funding. The aim is for larger quantities of synthesis gas to be produced and injected into a blast furnace.

About Dillinger and Saarstahl
Dillinger is a world leader in the manufacture of steel heavy plate for the steel construction, machine manufacturing, offshore, offshore wind power and line pipe sectors. Saarstahl is a world leader in the manufacture of wire rod and bar steel for the automotive industry, the construction industry and for general machine manufacturing. Dillinger and Saarstahl belong to SHS – Stahl-Holding-Saar. More information can be found at www.dillinger.de or www.saarstahl.de 

About Paul Wurth
Headquartered in Luxembourg since its creation in 1870, the Paul Wurth Group can look back on 150 years of excellence, during which the firm has developed into an international engineering company and an established technology provider for the global ironmaking industry. As a company of SMS group, Paul Wurth is a leading market player for the design and construction of complete blast furnace and coke oven plants. Direct reduction plants, environmental protection solutions and recycling technologies complete Paul Wurth’s product portfolio. Presently, the company is focusing on the development of innovative solutions for leading the transformation of the steel industry towards carbon-free steel production.
www.paulwurth.com