ArcelorMittal is partnering with French electrolyser and refuelling station producer McPhy Energy to accelerate steelmaking decarbonisation using hydrogen. Together with its energy joint venture with the city of Eisenhüttenstadt Vulkan Energiewirtschaft Oderbrücke (VEO), the steelmaker will build at its Eisenhüttenstadt site a pilot hydrogen production facility and a refuelling station, Kallanish notes.

The project that has been awarded a €5.1 million ($5.5m) grant by the state of Brandenburg. McPhy will deliver and maintain for five years two so-called McLyzer electrolysers of 1 megawatt each. The hydrogen produced will be used in steelmaking in the cold rolling mill, while the refuelling station will feed forklifts and trucks.

“The oxygen also generated during electrolysis is to be reused on site in production, for example in the hot rolling mill," a joint note says.

The Brandenburg Technical University (BTU) Cottbus-Senftenberg will study the data at the new plant to improve efficiency and electrolyser technology. The steelmaker seeks to increase energy efficiency of the plant in Eisenhüttenstadt, improving system performance using smart operating technology.

"With this project, we want to examine and show how further emission reductions are possible now, before a complete change in technology and the use of further hydrogen in the coming years will fully convert production to climate neutrality," ceo of ArcelorMittal Germany Reiner Blaschek comments.