Biomass utilization in iron production under economic and CO₂-reducing boundary conditions (BioFe)

The iron and steel industry is on the verge of transitioning from coal-based methods to green hydrogen processes. However, this shift from blast furnaces to hydrogen-based direct reduction faces challenges due to the scarcity of green hydrogen and inadequate infrastructure, making natural gas-based direct reduction a bridge technology. Additional challenges include higher energy demands from endothermic reactions and the lack of carbon in sponge iron, which affects electric arc furnace operations. Biomass can offer solutions as a heat source, reducing gas, or solid component in pellet production, addressing both energy and carbon issues in Direct Reduction process. This project aims to find out how much sustainable biomass is available for the steel industry, how it can be optimally integrated into Direct Reduction process and what the economic and environmental impact could be.