Rewriting the steel industry's future with hydrogen

Hydrogen is being tested as a revolutionary, clean energy source for steel production, marking a significant shift toward decarbonization in the industry.

Brian Dabbs reports for E&E News.

In short:

• Cleveland-Cliffs, North America's largest flat-rolled steel company, is experimenting with hydrogen in steel production, aiming to reduce carbon emissions.
• European companies like SSAB and H2 Green Steel are leading in producing zero-emission steel, while U.S. firms lag behind.
• The steel industry, responsible for a significant portion of global emissions, must decarbonize to meet climate goals, with hydrogen playing a key role.

Key quote:

“Hydrogen is the real game-changing event in ironmaking and steelmaking .... We are doing this to get paid, not to brag about it.”

— Lourenco Goncalves, CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs.

Why this matters:

Transitioning to hydrogen in steel production may reduce industrial carbon emissions, a vital step in combating climate change.

Is hydrogen the solution? Many of the voices holding up carbon capture and hydrogen as new climate solutions are the same voices that fought for the natural gas bridge a decade ago.