Posco offers futuristic strategies at Net Zero Expo
![The transition from red to blue illustrates the impact of the HyREX system. [POSCO]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/11/28/2d84b561-05ca-429e-8e3c-6c330d0ab633.jpg)
The transition from red to blue illustrates the impact of the HyREX system. [POSCO]
The 2022 Net Zero Expo at Kintex in Ilsan, Gyeonggi from Nov. 2 to Nov. 4 showcased the importance of carbon neutrality and the need for active cooperation between government officials, businesses and public institutions.
Posco boasted the largest booth at the Net Zero Expo and displayed futuristic strategies and technology for constructing an eco-conscious steel plant based on HyREX technology.
HyREX, or Hydrogen Reduction, is a cutting-edge technology for steel production developed by Posco. Using Hydrogen as a reduction agent, this innovative procedure reduces concerns of carbon emissions, making a huge advance in Posco’s attempt to achieve its goal of a “Great Conversion to Low-carbon Eco-friendly Steelmaking Process.”
Posco’s booth was organized into five sections themed around: Renewable energy and green hydrogen, environmental low-carbon resources, HyREX, eco-friendly commodities and Posco’s social responsibility activities. Together, the five themes underlined Posco’s long-term vision for “Net Zero 2050”.
In particular, the 3-D illustration of Posco’s fluidized bed reduction reactor caught the interests of many visitors.
The illustration depicted the reduction furnace process, displaying the reduction reaction of iron ore with hydrogen. By contrasting red and blue colors, the artwork effectively differentiates HyREX from blast furnace for processing. The emerging blue colors not only convey the conserving qualities of HyREX but also Posco’s objectives to eliminate carbon emissions as a clean steel plant.
Posco emphasized the significance of the HyREX fluidized bed reduction reactor by comparing it to conventional shaft furnaces.
The fluidized bed reduction reactor is cost efficient, uses easily available resources and excludes prior processing of raw materials. It is easily heated as thermal energy is essential for reduction reaction. An additional electric smelting furnace refines the quality of direct reduction iron.
At the booth’s renewable energy and green hydrogen section, Posco introduced various ways of producing diverse hydrogen formulas. Green hydrogen was particularly emphasized as an electrolysis-based hydrogen generation method using solar and wind energy without any carbon emissions.
In addition, Posco announced that it will aim to produce a total of 7 million tons of clean hydrogen by 2050, establishing a competitive hydrogen value chain.
The environmental low-carbon resources sector displayed Posco’s efforts to secure low-carbon resources such as scrap metal and HBI (hot briquetted iron).
Scrap metal is highlighted as an eco-friendly resource as it can reduce carbon dioxide levels by 75 percent when used for metal production. However, due to the material’s low accessibility, HBI is rising as a substitute. Posco provides further options by introducing HCI (hot compacting iron), which holds a remarkable resemblance to HBI with comparatively affordable costs and abundance.
At one end, Posco introduced three representative environmental brands: Innovilt, e Autopos and Greenable.
Posco also introduced the company’s social responsibility efforts to cut carbon emissions. By transforming steel slag into artificial reefs called Triton, Posco has successfully created a sea forest. Steel slag contains a high mineral content, making it less vulnerable to tsunamis and facilitating the growth of marine algae, restoring the marine ecosystem and diversifying coastal organisms.
Posco also uses shells on coasts as materials for steel and iron manufacturing. Shells are comprised of limestone, a sub ingredient in the manufacturing process. Posco aims to use 920,000 tons of shells for steelmaking, cutting 410,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the process.
Posco’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality were effectively highlighted via the 2022 Net Zero Expo. Posco aims to continue to innovate in the fields of technology, energy, products and social responsibility as a global leader in the development of carbon-free steel plants.
BY LEE HYE-IN [lee.hyein@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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