The Austrian metallurgical company Voestalpine AG has patented a process for producing steel using hydrogen and biogas in a direct iron reduction process. In addition to being carbon neutral, this process has other benefits. For example, biogenic carbon allows sponge iron to be carburized for efficient melting in an electric arc furnace.
The use of hybrid technology and electric arc furnaces will reduce 2 CO emissions by about 30% in the first phase by 2030. Voestalpine's long-term goal of steel and technology is to consistently increase the share of green electricity and hydrogen used in the steelmaking process, as well as the future climate neutral materials DRI and HBI, in order to achieve the goal of producing carbon neutral steel by 2050.
Voestalpine constantly invests in research and development of new products and processes. More than 700 voestalpine employees in more than 70 companies around the world are constantly researching, testing and launching new products. The group has already filed over 3,200 technology and product patents and ongoing research is focused on digitalization and sustainability.
