H2Stahl – Hydrogen technologies for a successive decarbonisation of the steel industry

The "Reallabor H2Stahl" is a collaboration between the BFI and tkSE for research into hydrogen-based direct reduction. Testing the technology on a pilot scale in an industrial environment will make a significant contribution to climate protection.

As part of the project, a direct reduction test plant is to be set up and operated in test campaigns. The BFI will own and operate the plant and manage the scientific campaigns. The plant will have a capacity of 100 kg/h and will be built next to the Carbon2Chem site so that infrastructure synergies can be utilised. In January 2024, the contract for the construction of the plant was awarded to TS Elino GmbH in order to start the planned test campaigns from summer 2026. The H2Stahl project will thus enable the testing of various input materials, reducing gas compositions and operating conditions. The findings from H2Stahl can be utilised for the operation of industrial direct reduction plants. The project is thus driving forward the development of pioneering technologies at the Duisburg steel location and beyond.

The test campaigns are prepared and accompanied by special investigations. In the BFI technical center, the reduction and carburisation behaviour as well as the sticking of the pellets are examined in advance. In addition, accompanying simulations of direct reduction are carried out.

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