POSCO unveils hydrogen-powered pilot steel plant, paving way for carbon neutrality
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Update time : 2024-07-03 13:35:19
South Korea’s largest steelmaker, POSCO, has unveiled a pilot steelmaking plant that operates on hydrogen instead of fossil fuels, marking a significant step towards its carbon neutrality goals. The pilot plant at the Pohang facility produces 24 tons of molten iron per day, emitting 400 kg of carbon per ton, much lower than traditional fossil fuel-based mills. POSCO aims for the facility to become carbon-free after transitioning to renewable energy.
The plant uses the HyREX hydrogen reduction process. In April 2024, the company successfully produced molten iron at the HyREX pilot plant, which is undergoing repairs to enhance post-process quality.
POSCO plans to start constructing a full-scale HyREX plant with a capacity of 36 tons of iron per hour in early 2025, aiming for completion by 2027. By 2040, the company intends to produce 2.5 million tons of steel annually using this process, transitioning to hydrogen-based production by 2050. Additionally, POSCO is building a 2.5 million-tonne-per-annum electric arc furnace at its Gwangyang plant, which is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 3.5 million tons annually when operational in 2026.
