The European Commission has approved a €55 million ($59m) German measure to support ArcelorMittal Hamburg in building a demonstration plant for the production of zero-emission iron using 100% renewable hydrogen.
The main objective of the project is to apply technology aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in ArcelorMittal’s green steel production processes. The plant will have an annual capacity of 100,000 tonnes of direct reduced iron.
The new plant will provide ArcelorMittal with valuable insights into the production of high-quality emissions-free steel. The group will use the experience gained at the demonstration plant to decarbonise its steel production in the EU on a larger scale. Moreover, ArcelorMittal has committed to share its technical know-how with other European steel producers, Kallanish learns from the Commission’s statement.
The demonstration plant is envisioned to start operating in 2026. Once completed, the project is expected to prevent the release of over 700,000 tonnes/year of carbon dioxide. The measure will contribute to the achievement of the EU Hydrogen Strategy and the European Green Deal targets. It will also help to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast forward the green transition, in line with the REPowerEU Plan, the Commission notes.
Christian Koehl Germany
