A groundbreaking collaboration in Belgium is harnessing the power of plasma to reduce carbon emissions in the steel industry. The technology, developed by three companies, involves a plasma reactor that converts captured CO2 into carbon monoxide (CO) for steel and chemical production. This innovative process has the potential to revolutionize the sector by decarbonizing steelmaking operations, which traditionally create a significant amount of CO2.
The trial at ArcelorMittal’s site in Gent is capturing CO2 from the plant and recycling it into CO using a plasma reactor from D-CRBN, a Belgian climate technology company. The fully electrified process eliminates the need for fossil fuels and helps boost efficiency by consuming the resulting oxygen. This environmentally friendly technology could be a major step forward for steelmaking, providing a promising solution for reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to a more sustainable industry.
The collaboration between the companies aims to scale the technology to convert 1 million tonnes of CO2 per year, equivalent to the annual emissions of a typical blast furnace. This initiative not only helps reduce carbon emissions in the steel industry but also opens up opportunities for utilizing the converted CO for various applications, such as the production of ethanol, methanol, and sustainable aviation fuels. With the potential to address multiple environmental challenges, this innovative plasma technology could play a crucial role in the future of sustainable steel production.
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