In a move to reduce carbon emissions, the steelmaking company ArcelorMittal has successfully started using a system that runs entirely on green hydrogen to heat its rolling mill in Olaberria, Spain, reports The Hydrogen Europe.
The mill requires intense heat to prepare steel for shaping. The company has swapped out its previous natural gas furnaces for new units that burn only green hydrogen. This new system was designed and installed by the Spanish engineering firm Sarralle.
This project represents a practical step in using hydrogen to clean up industrial processes. However, ArcelorMittal has recently been hesitant to use hydrogen for the larger, more complex job of primary iron production in Germany, citing high costs.
An industry expert, Mark Allan of the Materials Processing Institute, endorsed the approach. He stated that using hydrogen for this specific heating purpose is a legitimate way to cut emissions, as electric alternatives often can’t meet the high-temperature demands.
The Olaberria plant melts recycled scrap metal to produce steel beams and other construction products. A Sarralle representative called the project a “key step toward the future,” proving that decarbonizing heavy industry is already possible with existing technology.
