Aug. 04, 2023
Nippon Steel Corporation
Nippon Steel Corporation (hereinafter “Nippon Steel”) has been conducting
development test of Super COURSE50, a technique to reduce CO2 emissions using heated hydrogen, in the test
furnace (12 m3) for blast furnace hydrogen injection technology at the East Nippon Works Kimitsu Area
since May 2022. The hydrogen injection demonstration using heated hydrogen is an extremely advanced
initiative, and in tests conducted to date, the world’s highest level of CO2 emissions reduction
effect of 22% from the blast furnace has been verified. Furthermore, Nippon Steel conduct a test by the
end of 2023, aiming for a reduction of 30% or more. For further CO2 emissions reduction and development of
various technologies, Nippon Steel will proceed with demonstration tests and work on promptly establishing
the Super COURSE50 technology (to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% or more) for large-scale blast
furnaces.
In the “Nippon Steel Carbon Neutral Vision 2050” announced in March 2021, Nippon Steel aims to
achieve carbon neutrality using the following three ultra-breakthrough technologies: (1) reduction with
hydrogen in blast furnaces, (2) high-grade steel production in large-sized EAFs, and (3) hydrogen use in
direct iron reduction process.
The demonstration was selected as one of the Green Innovation Fund projects under NEDO (New Energy and
Industrial Technology Development Organization) in January 2022. A consortium has been formed to conduct
related development projects by the following four organizations: Nippon Steel Corporation, JFE Steel
Corporation, Kobe Steel, Ltd., and The Japan Research and Development Center for Metals.
Nippon Steel always pursues the world's best technology and manufacturing capabilities and will continue
to contribute to the development of societal advancement through activities in the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations ("Affordable and Clean Energy" and "Industry,
Innovation and Infrastructure").
