Metso Outotec has launched the next generation of the 100% hydrogen-based Circored process for fine ore production to continue its decarbonisation offering for the steelmaking industry.

The company said the process uses hydrogen as a reducing agent instead of energy produced from fossil fuels, allowing the iron and steel industry to "efficiently tackle the decarbonisation challenge."

The flexible Circored process produces highly metalized DRI (direct reduced iron) or HBI (hot briquetted iron) that can directly be used as feed material in electric arc furnaces for carbon-free steelmaking, it explained.

The process applies a two-stage reactor configuration with a circulating fluidised bed (CFB) followed by a bubbling fluidised bed (FB) downstream. The company said the typical plant capacity is 1.25 Mt/y per line, and two or more lines can be combined using joint facilities and utility areas.

Furthermore, additional energy efficiencies can be achieved by direct hot feeding of the DRI into an electric arc furnace.

Attaul Ahmad, vice president of Ferrous and heat transfer at Metso Outotec, described the initiative as "a cost-effective alternative to traditional steelmaking routes." Ahmad said the "innovative process" would eliminate the need for costly and energy-intensive pelletising.