Nippon Steel Corporation, a leader in steel production technology, has made significant strides in reducing CO2 emissions with its innovative hydrogen injection method for blast furnaces. This breakthrough, part of the company’s “Nippon Steel Carbon Neutral Vision 2050,” has resulted in a world-first 43% reduction in CO2 emissions from a test furnace, surpassing its original target ahead of schedule.
The company has been developing this cutting-edge technology with support from the Japanese government, positioning itself as a global frontrunner in the effort to decarbonize steel production. Blast furnaces, which are vital for producing steel, are responsible for a substantial portion of industrial CO2 emissions. Currently, about 800 blast furnaces are operating worldwide, with around 20 of them in Japan. As steel production is predominantly concentrated in East Asia, including China, which accounts for about half of global crude steel production, the development of blast furnace decarbonization technologies has been a major focus for manufacturers across the globe.
The breakthrough CO2 emission reduction of 43% achieved by Nippon Steel in its test furnace is a major leap forward, outpacing similar results reported both in Japan and internationally. This achievement firmly establishes Nippon Steel as a global leader in the development of decarbonization technologies for steel manufacturing.
Nippon Steel’s Super COURSE50 technology, which uses hydrogen to reduce iron ore in blast furnaces, has been undergoing rigorous testing since May 2022 at the company’s East Nippon Works Kimitsu Area. The company’s commitment to innovation in reducing CO2 emissions was evident in its steady progress, with 22% CO2 reduction in 2022 and 33% in 2023. However, the breakthrough in late 2024, reaching a 43% reduction, has set a new global standard for hydrogen-based decarbonization.
In traditional blast furnace operations, coal (carbon) is used to reduce iron ore, a process that releases significant CO2 emissions. While hydrogen offers a cleaner alternative, it presents technical challenges due to its endothermic reaction, which requires more heat to melt the iron ore effectively. Nippon Steel overcame these challenges by improving the heat balance within the furnace, ensuring the reduction reaction proceeded efficiently, even with the use of hydrogen.
This achievement is a significant milestone for Nippon Steel as it continues to push the boundaries of decarbonization in steel production. The company is now focused on scaling up its hydrogen reduction technology, with the goal of reducing CO2 emissions by more than 50% in large-scale blast furnaces. The company plans to accelerate the development of these technologies, aiming for practical implementation in large-scale operations in the near future.
The project, which was initially selected as part of Japan’s Green Innovation Fund by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in 2022, has seen expanded funding in 2023. It is being developed in collaboration with a consortium of four companies: Nippon Steel, JFE Steel, Kobe Steel, and the Research and Development Center for Metals.
Nippon Steel’s success is poised to drive a shift in the steel industry, particularly as global demand for sustainable and carbon-neutral technologies intensifies. The company’s advancements in hydrogen-based steel production align with Japan’s broader efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and will likely inspire similar initiatives from other steelmakers around the world.
As one of the key players in the development of blast furnace decarbonization, Nippon Steel’s leadership in this field will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the global steel industry and its efforts to combat climate change.
