Researchers at SINTEF, one of Europe’s largest independent research organizations, are making significant strides in the development of hydrogen plasma technology.
Their aim is to develop a technology that could lead to emission-free steel production.
“If we succeed with hydrogen plasma, we can eliminate significant CO₂ emissions from the metal industry. This could be a breakthrough for the green transition in steel production,” said Kristine Bly, Master of Science at SINTEF.
The team’s innovative approach offers a clean alternative to traditional methods that rely on fossil fuels.
“The global metal industry relies on coal and coke to extract metals from ore, leading to significant CO₂ emissions,” added the researchers in a news release.
Hydrogen plasma offers a cleaner alternative
The research focuses on how hydrogen plasma can replace fossil carbon in metal production, paving the way for a greener transition in the industry.
This breakthrough’s success is due to the unique properties of hydrogen plasma.
“Ordinary gas is not reactive enough to achieve this. By heating hydrogen to very high temperatures, it transforms into plasma, which is significantly more reactive than ordinary hydrogen,” explained the researchers.
This superheated state allows the hydrogen to strip oxygen from metal ores far more efficiently than traditional methods.
In traditional steelmaking, carbon from coal performs this oxygen removal, resulting in large CO₂ emissions.
However, unlike conventional steel production, which relies on carbon-intensive processes, hydrogen plasma emits only water vapor as a byproduct. This theoretically makes the process nearly emission-free.
Exploring the scalability of the technology
SINTEF’s current research is focused on applying this technology to the production of ferromanganese, a vital alloy used in steel manufacturing.
The researchers are exploring the scalability of the technology, the energy requirements, and its potential impact on the metal industry.
The HyPla project, a key initiative in this area, has already demonstrated the feasibility of using hydrogen plasma to replace carbon in metal production.
“Through theoretical studies, laboratory experiments, and pilot-scale testing, the project developed a new production process where electricity and hydrogen plasma were used to reduce manganese ore,” added the press release.
While hydrogen plasma technology is still in its research phase, progress is accelerating.
The researchers are optimistic that if challenges related to energy consumption and costs can be overcome, this technology could become a cornerstone of emission-free metal production.
Broader impacts with further research
Beyond emissions reduction, the transition to hydrogen plasma could have broader impacts on global supply chains.
For example, it could reduce demand for traditional reducing agents like metallurgical coke while potentially increasing the demand for renewable energy to power the energy-intensive plasma process.
Notably, governments and institutions across the world have intensified their efforts to achieve net-zero emission, and hydrogen plasma technology could be a significant breakthrough in this regard.
“Ongoing research and innovation are critical to overcoming technical challenges in hydrogen plasma technology and making it economically viable,” concluded the press release.
“Through pilot projects and test facilities, researchers can test the technology in real-world scenarios, gather valuable data to improve processes, and identify areas for further development.”
