Low Carbon Ironmaking

Iron and steelmaking accounts for a significant proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions. As industry strives to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions a  key focus is to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions from ironmaking using Australian iron ores and coking coals.

Research at the Centre for Ironmaking and Materials Research (CIMR) is investigating the impact of hydrogen injection on the performance of ferrous burdens and coke in the blast furnace.

In the longer term, alternate ironmaking routes will become prevalent, with the industry likely to shift towards production of direct reduced iron using green hydrogen followed by melting using renewable electricity. CIMR researchers are assessing the feasibility of alternate green ironmaking technologies, such as fluidised bed reduction using hydrogen and melting in an electric smelting furnace, and investigating the behaviours of Australian iron ores and coking coals in these technologies.

Lead Contact: Associate Professor Tom Honeyands and the Centre for Ironmaking Materials Research