In an unprecedented feat, HBZX High Tech, a division of Hebei Iron & Steel Group (HBIS) in China, has achieved a significant milestone in the global steel industry. They have become the first steelmaker to produce direct reduced iron (DRI) using more than 60% hydrogen in the feed gas mix, setting a new standard for sustainable steel manufacturing.
The remarkable achievement took place at the HBZX plant, located in Xuan Hua, Zhangjiakou, Hebei province. This cutting-edge facility, equipped with a 600,000 metric ton-per-year Zero Reformer Energiron® direct reduction plant, has successfully achieved continuous, stable, and safe production with exceptional quality.
As the world's first hydrogen-enriched gas-powered DRI industrial production facility, the HBZX plant represents a significant breakthrough for the Chinese steel industry. It serves as a pioneering example of transitioning from carbon-based blast furnace routes to gas-based DRI technology and electric steelmaking, supporting the country's commitment to sustainable practices.
The utilization of Danieli's Energiron® direct reduction technology, developed jointly with Tenova, has been instrumental in HBZX High Tech's groundbreaking achievement. This advanced technology allows for exceptional energy efficiency, superior product quality, and adherence to stringent environmental regulations, with hydrogen serving as a reducing agent up to 100%.
With a remarkably low CO2 release of only 250 kg per ton of DRI, the HBIS plant stands as the greenest industrial DRI facility globally. Furthermore, the facility incorporates a CO2 removal unit within the Energiron® process scheme, enabling selective recovery of carbon dioxide. This paves the way for potential carbon capture and use or storage (CCU/CCS) initiatives, leading to a net emission of only approximately 125 kg of CO2 per ton of DRI.
