Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel has successfully tested the production of direct reduced iron (DRI) using 100% hydrogen and low-grade iron ore at its Hasaki Research & Development Center in Japan.
The pilot-scale shaft furnace operated continuously for more than 300 hours, producing a cumulative total of over 1,000 mt of DRI. The test used blast furnace-grade iron ore pellets instead of the high-grade pellets typically required for commercial DRI production.
The company addressed two major technical challenges: temperature losses caused by the endothermic reaction of hydrogen reduction and the tendency of low-grade ore to break down into fine particles, restricting gas flow inside the furnace.
By applying advanced thermal compensation technology and optimized operating conditions, Nippon Steel achieved stable DRI production.
The development could expand the range of iron ore suitable for hydrogen-based steelmaking, reducing dependence on limited supplies of high-grade raw materials.
The project forms part of Nippon Steel's Carbon Neutral Vision 2050. The company plans to begin developing scale-up technologies in fiscal 2027, targeting the establishment of practical implementation technology around 2040.
The initiative is supported by Japan's Green Innovation Fund and involves Nippon Steel, JFE Steel and the Japan Research and Development Center for Metals.
VietnamSteel by Hoa Sen Group
