Hydrogen plasma technology enables emission-free steel production

Researchers at SINTEF are advancing hydrogen plasma technology to enable emission-free steel production. This method could replace fossil fuels, significantly reducing CO2 emissions from the metal industry, which currently relies on coal and coke. Hydrogen plasma, created by heating hydrogen to high temperatures, is more reactive than regular hydrogen. This allows it to efficiently strip oxygen from metal ores, producing only water vapor as a byproduct, unlike traditional carbon-intensive processes. The current focus is on applying this technology to ferromanganese production. While still in the research phase, progress is being made to address energy consumption and costs, potentially transforming the metal industry and supporting global net-zero emission goals.