US Steel and Molten Industries, a startup backed by Bill Gates, have announced a pilot project for clean steel production using turquoise hydrogen technology. The US Department of Energy has granted $5.4 million to support this initiative.

US Steel Launches Clean Steel Pilot with Turquoise Hydrogen

Project Overview

  • Integration of zero-carbon turquoise hydrogen production with a direct-reduced iron (DRI) furnace
  • US Steel: Providing iron ore for hydrogen-based reduction
  • Molten Industries: Contributing methane-pyrolysis technology
  • CPFD Software: Offering simulation technology for design optimization

Turquoise Hydrogen Production

Molten Industries’ technology uses renewable electricity to power chemical reactors that convert natural gas or biomethane into hydrogen and graphite through methane pyrolysis.

Technology Characteristics:

  • Energy usage: 5 times less than water electrolysis
  • Utilizes existing natural gas networks
  • Potential for carbon-neutral or negative hydrogen production with certified low-emissions methane sources

Project Goals

The project aims to demonstrate the integration of methane-pyrolysis hydrogen production with a pilot DRI shaft furnace at Molten’s Oakland, California facility. Anticipated outcomes:

  1. Reduced energy consumption
  2. Lower carbon intensity
  3. Decreased production costs

Graphite Co-Production

Molten Industries reports capability to produce lithium-ion grade graphite from methane, suitable for battery anodes. This represents a potential additional revenue stream.

Financial Backing

  • US Department of Energy: $5.4 million grant
  • Molten Industries: $25 million Series A funding, led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Kevin Bush, Molten CEO: “This pilot project is a step in Molten’s mission to decarbonize heavy industries.”

Christian Gianni, US Steel CTO: “This collaboration supports our 2050 net zero emissions goal.”

This pilot project combines innovative hydrogen production with traditional steelmaking processes, potentially influencing future clean steel technologies and contributing to industrial decarbonization efforts.

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