Authors
Möller, Lisa; Schwalb, Michael; Garvens, Hans J.; Wohlgemuth, Volker
Abstract
Hydrogen is a promising possibility to decarbonize many industrial processes including steel production. Since the ability to use hydrogen in the blast furnace process is limitied new installations have to be set up. The direct reduction route was evaluated against the conventional blast furnace route. Hydrogen was produced by PEM electrolysis. Scenarios used today’s eletricity mix, an 100% renewable wind mix and the conventional blast furnace using coke. Todays electricity mix leads to much higher emissions of green house gases compared to the conventional blast furnace. At least 80% of renewable energy in an electricity grid is needed to reach the break even point. The interpretation is, that the introduction of direct reduction of iron will not be suitable until 2040 years – depending on the availybility of renewable electricity. Until than only access wind or solar energy might be used, which will most obvious lead to economical insufficient use of the new installations.