Steel Ministry's Green Hydrogen Initiative for Decarbonizing Iron and Steel Sector
Key Ideas
- The steel ministry in India is exploring the use of green hydrogen to reduce emissions in the iron and steel industry.
- MECON has been appointed as the implementing agency for the green hydrogen pilot scheme in the sector.
- The scheme aims to promote the use of hydrogen in various processes like direct reduction of iron and blast furnaces to lower carbon intensity.
- India's steel sector accounts for 12% of carbon dioxide emissions, making decarbonization efforts crucial for achieving the country's net zero target.
The Ministry of Steel in India has initiated a plan to utilize green hydrogen in the iron and steel industry to reduce carbon emissions. The ministry has tapped MECON, an in-house consultancy, to spearhead this green hydrogen initiative. MECON, under the Ministry of Steel, has developed a draft RFP for the scheme, which is currently being reviewed. The drive towards decarbonization is crucial for India, considering the steel sector's significant carbon dioxide emissions, amounting to 12% of the country's total emissions. The use of green hydrogen is seen as a key strategy to lower the carbon footprint of the industry. The government plans to provide financial support to encourage the adoption of hydrogen in processes like direct reduction of iron and blast furnaces. This includes strategies such as substituting natural gas with hydrogen in DRI, injecting hydrogen into blast furnaces, and exploring 100% hydrogen usage in DRI production. These efforts aim to make the iron and steel production processes more environmentally friendly and less carbon-intensive. The green hydrogen pilot scheme aligns with India's larger goal of achieving net zero emissions in the coming years, demonstrating a positive step towards sustainable industrial practices.