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SALCOS® plans to use hydrogen for climate-neutral steel production. The process behind this can be explained as follows: We currently produce pig iron by using coal in our blast furnaces. This process releases CO2. With direct reduction, however, iron ore is reduced using hydrogen. The hydrogen reacts with the oxygen in the iron ore (iron oxide) directly in the solid state and converts it into sponge iron (almost pure iron). Instead of CO2, this technology produces water (H2O), which in turn is used in the integrated process. In order to be able to process sponge iron further, the porous material is finally melted down together with steel scrap in an electric arc furnace.
Our SALCOS® program envisages gradually replacing our blast furnaces with direct reduction plants. The first of these plants could go into operation in 2026.
