Tata Steel Nederland

Tata Steel Group is investigating means to lower the CO2 emissions resulting from iron making.

An interesting option involves a different iron making process. The Hlsarna process uses a different type of blast furnace which results in more efficient steel melting. Besides reduced CO2 emissions by an estimated 25%, the flue gas from the furnace is concentrated CO2. This makes it very suitable for CCS.

A pilot plant of 8 t iron per hour has been built at the IJmuiden location. Tests will commence in the summer of 2011 and include the use of biomass as carbon source instead of cokes. If successful, the HIsarna technology is ready for commercial deployment.

Another option is the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the IJmond region, with a focus on steel industry. Different technologies to capture the CO2 from the steel mills were analysed and their possibility to integrate the capture with existing power plants were examined. This includes capture using amines, PSA or cryogenic or the use of oxyfuel.