Researchers in Belgium are working on a groundbreaking technology that could revolutionize the steel industry by using plasma to turn captured CO₂ into carbon monoxide. This process could help decarbonize steel production, a sector that creates significant CO₂ emissions and is challenging to electrify. Traditional methods of converting CO₂ into CO are energy-intensive but the plasma reactor being developed by Belgian company D-CRBN offers a fully electrified solution fueled by renewable electricity.
The collaboration between D-CRBN, ArcelorMittal, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is capturing CO₂ from a steel plant in Belgium and using it as a feedstock for the plasma reactor. By converting CO₂ into CO, the steelmaking process can reduce its reliance on coal and decrease its carbon footprint. The high-purity CO₂ stream provided by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ensures the efficiency of the conversion process.
The ultimate goal is to scale up the technology to convert 1 million tonnes of CO₂ per year, equivalent to the annual emissions of a typical blast furnace. This innovative approach has the potential to not only decarbonize steelmaking but also create feedstock for other industries, like the production of ethanol, methanol, and sustainable aviation fuels. The technology could play a key role in helping the steel industry achieve its decarbonization goals, representing a significant step forward in addressing climate change.
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