China's Steel Industry Accelerates Green Transformation with Breakthroughs in Hydrogen Steelmaking Technology
Driven by the national "dual carbon" strategy, China's steel industry is undergoing an unprecedented green transformation. According to the latest report from the China Iron and Steel Association, in the first half of 2024, environmental protection investments by key steel enterprises nationwide increased by 25% year-on-year, with the completion rate of ultra-low emission retrofits exceeding 85%. Notably, significant breakthroughs in hydrogen steelmaking technology have provided a new technical pathway for low-carbon development in the industry.
HBIS Group's globally first 1.2 million-ton hydrogen metallurgy demonstration project in Zhangjiakou has officially commenced operations. This project uses hydrogen-rich gas instead of traditional coke as a reducing agent, reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 1.6 million tons annually. Meanwhile, Baowu Group has constructed the country's largest hydrogen-based shaft furnace at its Shanghai base, which is expected to achieve million-ton-level hydrogen steelmaking capacity by 2025. Other enterprises such as Ansteel and Shagang Group are also actively advancing hydrogen steelmaking pilot projects.
Industry experts point out that while hydrogen steelmaking shows promising prospects, it still faces challenges such as high hydrogen costs and immature storage and transportation technologies. Wang Guodong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, stated: "In the future, we need to accelerate the construction of a green hydrogen production system, improve hydrogen infrastructure, and promote the development of carbon trading markets to create a better market environment for green steel."
In addition to hydrogen technology, electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking is also experiencing rapid development. From January to June 2024, China's EAF steel production increased by 18% year-on-year, accounting for 15% of total crude steel output. Industry insiders predict that with the accumulation of scrap resources and optimization of the power structure, this proportion is expected to reach 30% by 2030.