tkH2Steel®: With hydrogen to carbon-neutrak steel production
Clear roadmap to green premium steel
Our claim is clear. Our transformation to carbon-neutral steel production should be completed by 2045 at the latest. The path to net zero greenhouse gas CO2 leads through one of the largest investment projects in industrial history. The four blast furnaces which have shaped the Duisburg cityscape for decades are going to be replaced: with the construction of the first direct reduction plant, we are launching one of the biggest industrial decarbonization projects worldwide.
Each year, the first plant will be able to supply 2.3 million metric tons of liquid hot metal (produced from 2.5 million metric tons of DRI) to the integrated BOF meltshops at the site, which will then process it into the proven steel grades. thyssenkrupp will offer the full range of premium steel grades in decarbonized form in the long term; this will be a key factor in industrial value creation and thus a driver of the energy and mobility revolution, for example.
The plant combination also has other clear advantages:
Hot link
Due to the "hot link" of the integrated plant, i.e. for the immediate melting of the still hot sponge iron, significantly less energy is required.
Zero-waste approach
The slag from the melters is not a waste product, but can be processed into granulated blast furnace sand and used as a CO2-saving clinker substitute, especially in the cement industry.
With the first direct reduction plant alone, we can save up to 3.5 million metric tons of CO2 in pure hydrogen operation. This corresponds to just under 5% of emissions in the Ruhr region, or around 2% of emissions in North Rhine-Westphalia. When the plant is scheduled to go into operation in 2027, green hydrogen will not yet be available in sufficient quantities. It is therefore all the more important that the direct reduction plant can also be commissioned with natural gas, enabling the use of blue hydrogen as a bridging technology. At the same time, thyssenkrupp Steel is also investing in the decarbonization of further production stages, i.e. in the decarbonizing of the steel mills and downstream operations. In other words: the bridge to a carbon-neutral future is in place.
A new landmark for the green powerhouse of Europe
The new direct reduction plant is an outstanding investment in two senses: as a milestone for the decarbonization of steel which, when it is completed will represent a landmark and an emblem for the decarbonization of the industrial center of Europe, as well as for the future of the Rhine-Ruhr region which should serve as a model for the hydrogen economy.
In spring 2023, thyssenkrupp Steel had already awarded the engineering, supply and construction contracts to the plant builder SMS group from North Rhine-Westphalia. The construction of the plants and equipment alone will create more than 400 new jobs. We report on the progress of construction work on an ongoing basis, and seek active dialog with local residents.
Catalyst of a hydrogen ecosystem
tkH2Steel®: the heart of steel is turning green. Green electricity and green hydrogen will be the indispensable energy carriers and thus the lifeblood of a decarbonized industry. The demand from the steel industry is so high that the installed capacity of wind power, solar energy and electrolysis seems modest in comparison. Just to operate thyssenkrupp Steel's first direct reduction plant exclusively with green hydrogen would require green electricity from 800 wind turbines. Added to this comes the power requirement of the two melters. The only way to achieve completely carbon-neutral steel production is therefore to ensure a comprehensive supply of green electricity and green hydrogen.
Climate-neutral steel production in the Ruhr region
thyssenkrupp Steel is playing a key role in the Europe-wide hydrogen supply. As the engine of the hydrogen economy, Europe's largest integrated iron and steel plant will help drive the rapid and ambitious hydrogen ramp-up in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and in neighboring European countries as well.
As Germany's largest consumer of hydrogen in this decade, we are a key driver for the development of the corresponding hydrogen infrastructure. The hydrogen value chain is expected to create a six-figure number of additional jobs in the future.
From near and far: roadmap for hydrogen supply
thyssenkrupp Steel is in contact with potential project partners to secure the future local and long-distance supply of green hydrogen and electricity. According to current plans, Duisburg will already be connected to the national hydrogen network at an early stage. The planned hydrogen pipeline between Dorsten and the Duisburg district of Hamborn (DoHa project) will provide a secure connection to a supraregional hydrogen network. Further connections to currently planned major power projects, e.g. with links to Rotterdam, are also planned by 2030.
Tender for Hydrogen supply
thyssenkrupp Steel Europe will conduct a public tender for the procurement of hydrogen. Please refer to our official pre-announcement on the platforms DTVP (Deutsches Vergabe Portal), Bund.de Service Online and TED (tenders electronic daily). There you will find information about the tender and the procedure.
If you have any questions, please contact us by e-mail: [email protected].
bluemint® Steel – a brand for CO2-reduced and climate-friendlier steel
As early as 2021, thyssenkrupp Steel launched bluemint® Steel, a brand for CO2-reduced steel which has met with strong customer demand. In household appliances and bathroom fittings, cans and jam jar lids of renowned brand-name manufacturers, as well as in transformers for substations, packaging steel for chemicals, truck wheels and vehicle components, bluemint® Steel is either already in place today, or delivery at a later date has been agreed.
bluemint® Steel is thyssenkrupp's brand for CO2-reduced steel that in the long term will be produced from the hydrogen-powered direct reduction plant. Customers can already significantly reduce their carbon footprint with the bluemint® pure and bluemint® recycled brands. The CO2 savings here are achieved by using alternative charge materials in the blast furnace.
Binding and verifiable: global standards for tkH2Steel®
With our climate strategy, we are committed to the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015 and assume social responsibility. By 2045 at the latest, our steel production should be completely carbon-neutral. As an initial target for 2030, we are aiming to reduce our emissions from the production and processes in our own company (Scope 1), and emissions from the purchase of energy (Scope 2), by more than 30 percent versus the baseline of 2018.
ResponsibleSteel® – working together for social and environmental compatibility in steel
Since February 2022, thyssenkrupp Steel has been a member of the ResponsibleSteel® initiative and is thus committed to the global standards and the independent certification program of the non-profit organization. This also provides an independent check on whether our transformation to carbon-neutral steel production takes account of social and ecological aspects along the entire value chain.
The twelve principles of ResponsibleSteel® extend firstly to the responsible and sustainable management of the supply chain – from procurement to the use and recycling of steel. Secondly, the standards cover topics such as health and safety, water management and biodiversity, human rights and workers' rights, and relations with the local communities.
#nextgenerationsteel: Fit for the green future
#nextgenerationsteel stands for the steel of the future – but just as much for sustainable steel production that secures prosperity, employment and a world worth living in for future generations. The new chapter in our company's history has opened following the funding commitment for the first direct reduction plant – and now it's time to write this story together.
Our employees are aware of the critical role our transformation plays in climate change mitigation. New job profiles are being created here, employees are being retrained in the operation of new plants and thus geared up for the future of steel production. A qualification and training initiative is therefore an essential part of thyssenkrupp Steel's transformation journey.
