The EU Commission has approved funding of around €2 billion for the decarbonisation project "tkH2Steel". Thyssenkrupp wants to integrate hydrogen technology into already existing plants. The commissioning of the new plant combination is scheduled for the end of 2026.
The concept is characterised above all by its high speed. Thus, a lot of CO₂ will be saved quickly.In addition, "tkH2Steel" contributes to the European hydrogen economy and thus favours investments in the rapid development of a cross-border hydrogen infrastructure. According to Thyssenkrupp, the group's own investment is close to €1 billion.
Thyssenkrupp's reactions
Bernhard Osburg, Chairman of the Executive Board of Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG: "Our project is an important contribution to achieving the climate goals in Germany and Europe and secures sustainable industrial jobs, also in neighbouring sectors. In this way, we can also demonstrate internationally that progress, prosperity and climate protection are not contradictions.
We thank the Federal Government and the State Government of North Rhine-Westphalia for their continued and determined support for the green transformation of our steel production and their confidence in our concept. We are now counting on a prompt formal grant by the federal government."
Thyssenkrupp drives decarbonisation of steel industry with 'tkH2Steel'
According to Thyssenkrupp, the core of the 'tkH2Steel' concept is the integration of a technologically new plant combination into what it claims is Europe's largest steelworks. The direct reduction plant is 100 % hydrogen-capable and has a production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes of directly reduced iron (DRI) per year. It is the first plant combination of its kind in the world with this technological concept. It promotes the decarbonisation of the steel value chain and ensures, among other things, the production of special materials for the energy and mobility transition.
This will promote climate protection in Europe: The annual savings will be up to 3.5 million tonnes of CO₂. Commissioning is scheduled for the end of 2026. Thyssenkrupp plans to operate the plant with around 143,000 t of hydrogen per year in 2029. This corresponds to the filling volume of the Oberhausen gasometer, every two hours, 365 days a year.
After granting the early start of the project, Thyssenkrupp Steel commissioned the SMS Group from Düsseldorf at the end of February with the engineering, delivery and construction of the DRI plant as well as the two melters and the associated ancillary units at the Duisburg site. The detailed planning and the preparatory measures for construction had progressed accordingly.
Source: Thyssenkrupp/2023
