Brazilian steel company Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN) plans to start producing environmentally friendly hydrogen in August-September this year at a demonstration plant, Kallanish reports.
The so-called Selene project is being developed by CSN Inova, the steel company's innovation division. Once commissioned, it will produce up to 709 tons of hydrogen per year, which will require an investment of 120 million Brazilian reais ($22.9 million).
According to Vinicius Sant'Ana, CEO of CSN's Paraná plant, said the launch of the plant marks an important step towards the future of the industry and renewable fuels.
"This strategic initiative reinforces our commitment to decarbonization by offering sustainable solutions for both industry and mobility," he adds.
Although production is focused on supplying vehicles, including trucks, forklifts, and buses, to and around the plant, the steel mill has yet to confirm whether it plans to use hydrogen in its steel production process. CSN Paraná is a laminating and coating company located in Araucaria with a capacity of 130,000 tons per year of pre-painted steel, 230,000 tons per year of galvanized steel and 150,000 tons per year of hot-rolled coils with strip treatment.
"The future of the industry is created when innovation, scale, and the market begin to evolve together," comments Weber Reis, CSN's Commercial Director. "The energy transition requires technology, but it also requires coordination, a business model, and the capacity to implement."
According to the company's website, the CSN group, which includes mining, cement, energy and logistics divisions, has analyzed more than 100 projects and technologies as part of viability studies. However, details about the goals and strategies of decarbonization have yet to be revealed.
Brazil recently launched an industry decarbonization plan aimed, among other things, at increasing the consumption of renewable energy sources to more than 65% over the next ten years. Some of the priorities relate to energy efficiency improvements, electrification of processes, the use of scrap and charcoal as raw materials for steel production instead of coke or coking coal, and the use of carbon and hydrogen capture and storage technologies.
Callanish contacted CSN for more information.
Author: Gabriela Farhangi Great Britain
Kallanish.com
