Key Findings
Nippon Steel announced on November 4 that it has successfully conducted trial production of direct reduced iron (DRI) using 100% hydrogen as the reducing agent. The trials were performed at the Hasaki Research and Development Center, where the company achieved continuous operation for over 300 hours, producing a cumulative total of more than 1,000t of reduced iron.
Technical Details
The process utilized a shaft-type trial reduction furnace that began operation in March 2026, featuring a height of approximately 60m and a production capacity of 1t/h. Unlike existing commercial reduction furnaces that require high-grade iron ore (direct reduction grade pellets), this trial used lower-grade iron ore (blast furnace grade pellets).
To overcome technical hurdles, Nippon Steel implemented two specific technologies:
- Thermal Compensation Technology: This maintains furnace temperatures to counteract the endothermic nature of hydrogen-only reduction, which typically causes temperature drops.
- Operational Technology: This prevents the powdering of low-grade iron ore during reduction, which otherwise impairs gas permeability and reaction control within the furnace.
Background & Context
Current global DRI production reaches approximately 100 million tons per year, but relies primarily on natural gas, which emits CO2. While hydrogen reduction offers a carbon-neutral alternative, the reliance on high-grade ore is a bottleneck due to limited supply. Establishing a method to use abundant low-grade ore is critical for securing future iron sources.
This project is part of the “Nippon Steel Carbon Neutral Vision 2050” and is supported by the Green Innovation Fund from NEDO. The development is being carried out by a consortium consisting of Nippon Steel, JFE Steel, and the National Institute for Materials Science.
Significance & Outlook
The company will continue testing to optimize operational conditions and establish direct reduction technology. Starting in fiscal 2027, Nippon Steel will advance development including scale-up technologies, with the goal of establishing full-scale commercial technology by around 2040.
Source: https://news.mynavi.jp/techplus/article/20261104-5255319/
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