BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
ORGANIZER;CN=ESTAD 2023:mailto:info@metec-estad.com
LOCATION:Room 12
SUMMARY:Where should we build the next 100 direct reduction modules?
DESCRIPTION:Shaft furnace direct reduction technology has proliferated globally over the past half century and more than 100 modules are currently operating. Choosing where to build these furnaces has been generally straightforward: build where natural gas is inexpensive and abundant. The next generation of direct reduction modules faces a more complex choice. Net zero scenarios for the iron and steel industry call for doubling the number of installed modules in half the time it took to deploy the existing fleet. Many of these new facilities will eventually use hydrogen as a reductant and must consider how their location affects their ability to transition partially or completely to hydrogen, electrify heating, access a competitive global iron ore market, and respond to accelerating legislated and voluntary decarbonization drivers. 

A transition to hydrogen-based ironmaking also forces a discussion on where to produce the required green hydrogen. Producing the hydrogen locally requires abundant green energy and freshwater; transportation from other regions, by pipeline or liquid ammonia conversion, may struggle to economically supply the immense volumes of hydrogen required for ironmaking. So, if the goal is decarbonization of the steel industry, why not move iron instead? DRI is already an effective means of ‘virtually’ exporting natural gas, enabling movement of solid iron rather than liquified gas, and can serve a similar export function in a future hydrogen economy. 

This paper aims to provide guidance for assessing the complex and competing factors affecting the choice of location for the next generation of direct reduction modules. These factors will be analyzed on a global basis and used to highlight the most promising regions for producing natural gas-based DRI while enabling a transition to hydrogen-based ironmaking. This paper will also compare technical and economic aspects concerning the export of hydrogen-based DRI with the export of hydrogen energy carriers.
 
CLASS:PUBLIC
DTSTART:20230615T113000
DTEND:20230615T115000
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR