Title

HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FROM BLAST FURNACE GAS: A FIELD DEMONSTRATION OF H2GEN TECHNOLOGY

HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FROM BLAST FURNACE GAS: A FIELD DEMONSTRATION OF H2GEN TECHNOLOGY

Authorship

IANNELLI, MIKE; RAMLAL, JASMEER; GRIESHABER, KEN

IANNELLI, MIKE

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RAMLAL, JASMEER

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GRIESHABER, KEN

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DOI

10.5151/2594-357X-41972

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Abstract

This paper discusses the commissioning and operational results of the first H2Gen® demonstration plant at a North American integrated steel facility. The project successfully demonstrated the use of blast furnace gas (BFG) to produce hydrogen from water using H2Gen® technology—a breakthrough that offers the global steel industry, including Brazil, an innovative and cost-effective pathway to decarbonize blast furnace ironmaking. Given that the majority of Brazil’s crude steel production still relies on the BF-BOF route, this technology has strong relevance for the Brazilian market. By utilizing existing BFG streams—widely available in Brazil’s integrated steel plants—H2Gen® enables on-site, carbon-neutral hydrogen production without requiring high-cost energy inputs. This is especially valuable in Brazil, where the availability of scrap and DRI-grade iron ore limits large-scale EAF adoption. The paper also describes the core technology behind H2Gen®—a solid oxide electrochemical reactor—and outlines a pathway to scale this system for future commercial deployments. For Brazil, this represents a practical solution to reduce emissions while maintaining the competitiveness of its steel sector in a decarbonizing global market.

THIS PAPER DISCUSSES THE COMMISSIONING AND OPERATIONAL RESULTS OF THE FIRST H2GEN® DEMONSTRATION PLANT AT A NORTH AMERICAN INTEGRATED STEEL FACILITY. THE PROJECT SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATED THE USE OF BLAST FURNACE GAS (BFG) TO PRODUCE HYDROGEN FROM WATER USING H2GEN® TECHNOLOGY—A BREAKTHROUGH THAT OFFERS THE GLOBAL STEEL INDUSTRY, INCLUDING BRAZIL, AN INNOVATIVE AND COST-EFFECTIVE PATHWAY TO DECARBONIZE BLAST FURNACE IRONMAKING. GIVEN THAT THE MAJORITY OF BRAZIL’S CRUDE STEEL PRODUCTION STILL RELIES ON THE BF-BOF ROUTE, THIS TECHNOLOGY HAS STRONG RELEVANCE FOR THE BRAZILIAN MARKET. BY UTILIZING EXISTING BFG STREAMS—WIDELY AVAILABLE IN BRAZIL’S INTEGRATED STEEL PLANTS—H2GEN® ENABLES ON-SITE, CARBON-NEUTRAL HYDROGEN PRODUCTION WITHOUT REQUIRING HIGH-COST ENERGY INPUTS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY VALUABLE IN BRAZIL, WHERE THE AVAILABILITY OF SCRAP AND DRI-GRADE IRON ORE LIMITS LARGE-SCALE EAF ADOPTION. THE PAPER ALSO DESCRIBES THE CORE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND H2GEN®—A SOLID OXIDE ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTOR—AND OUTLINES A PATHWAY TO SCALE THIS SYSTEM FOR FUTURE COMMERCIAL DEPLOYMENTS. FOR BRAZIL, THIS REPRESENTS A PRACTICAL SOLUTION TO REDUCE EMISSIONS WHILE MAINTAINING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF ITS STEEL SECTOR IN A DECARBONIZING GLOBAL MARKET.

Keywords

Decarbonization, Hydrogen, Blast Furnace Gas

Decarbonization, Hydrogen, Blast Furnace Gas