Green iron production pilot opens at RWE power plant in Germany

A direct reduction plant for the production of iron using green hydrogen has been launched at the site of RWE AG's (ETR:RWE) power plant in Lingen, Lower Saxony province.

As part of the "GEiSt: Green iron for the steel industry" project, more than a tonne of green iron per hour is to be produced with the help of green hydrogen. Instead of conventional energy sources such as coking coal or natural gas, green hydrogen is used to reduce iron ore and produce sponge iron, also known as direct reduced iron (DRI). Thus, the only by-product of iron production is water vapour which is collected and reused during the electrolysis process in green hydrogen production. Sponge iron is then further processed to make steel.

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The green hydrogen is produced in an electrolyser on the site and fed into the DRI plant.

The steel industry is the sector with the highest share of greenhouse gas emissions in the German industry, accounting for about 30% of industrial emissions. Therefore, decarbonising iron ore production plays a key role, as it holds the greatest potential for reducing emissions, commented Lower Saxony's energy minister Christian Meyer at the opening of the DRI pilot plant.

In addition to RWE, the demonstration project involves also start-up company CO2GRAB, LSF and steel maker BENTELER Steel/Tube. It is worth EUR 5 million (USD 5.5m) and the Lower Saxony Environment Ministry is funding the project with EUR 3 million.