AUSTRIA: What steelmaker Voestalpine says is the world’s first steel rail produced with net-zero CO2 emissions using mix of scrap and hydrogen-reduced pure iron has been laid at Linz Hauptbahnhof as part of a four-tracking project.
‘Production of the world’s first hydrogen-reduced rail at our Donawitz site is a historic milestone’, said CEO Herbert Eibensteiner on July 29.
The production method uses hydrogen from renewable energy sources to separate oxygen from the iron ore, generating water vapour instead of CO2 as a byproduct. The hydrogen-reduced pure iron was produced in Voestalpine’s HYFOR pilot plant, and the melt was carried out in its Technikum Metallurgie research steelworks. The steel was then processed into the finished rail in the neighbouring rolling mill.
‘The production of high-quality, CO2-reduced steel grades is one of the biggest technological challenges in the transition to green steel production’, said Franz Kainersdorfer, Head of Voestalpine’s Metal Engineering Division. ‘As the world’s leading provider of complete railway infrastructure systems, our mission is to create sustainable and trendsetting solutions for the mobility of tomorrow.’
Eibensteiner said Voestalpine is ‘pursuing a clear phased plan to transform our steel production. Starting in 2027, one green-powered electric arc furnace will be put into operation at each of our sites in Linz and Donawitz. Our long-term goal by 2050 is net zero CO2 emissions in steel production. To this end, we are already conducting research into several new processes and investing in pilot and presentation projects that demonstrate new steel production possibilities.’
