United Kingdom – In its quest to decarbonize its operations and manufacture net-zero steel, British Steel is conducting a major study into the use of green hydrogen.
The steelmaker has pledged to deliver net-zero steel by 2050 and significantly reduce its CO2 intensity by 2030 and 2035, in collaboration with EDF UK, UCL (University College London), and the Materials Processing Institute.
It has received funding from the UK government to conduct a feasibility study on switching from natural gas to green hydrogen as a fuel source for re-heating furnaces to support its plans. If the study is successful, British Steel will conduct an industrial-scale demonstration, with the technology being developed and rolled out across the company’s operations, including its Scunthorpe manufacturing base. Other steelmakers in the UK may follow suit.
Decarbonization
The research was funded by the UK Government’s Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which was awarded to British Steel (NZIP). The Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) provides funding for low-carbon technologies and systems through the NZIP program. The Portfolio will help the UK end its contribution to climate change by lowering the costs of decarbonization. British Steel is currently conducting a 6-month study with its partners based on operations at its Teesside Beam Mill.
The research is linked to the Tees Green Hydrogen project, a ground-breaking scheme that will power its hydrogen electrolyser with green electricity from the nearby Teesside Offshore Wind Farm and a new solar farm that EDF Renewables UK plans to build near Redcar. Tees Green Hydrogen will provide hydrogen to local businesses to aid in decarbonization and a significant reduction in industrial pollution.
