Tata Steel aims to raise the amount of hydrogen used in the production of steel

Following the successful completion of the pilot project at its Jamshedpur facility in Jharkhand, Tata Steel wants to expand the use of hydrogen in the steel-making process, according to the CEO and MD of the firm, T V Narendran.

At its steel factory in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, Tata Steel started a groundbreaking experiment in April 2023 by injecting hydrogen gas using 40% of the injection systems in the E-blast furnace. It was really successful, and while we will scale it up, eventually we need green hydrogen to be available in Eastern India, since that will dictate how it may be used, according to Narendran.

He refused to specify, though, by how much the corporation intends to increase its use of hydrogen. The injection of hydrogen into blast furnaces aids in reducing the consumption of coal, hence lowering carbon footprint. "This is the first time in the history of the world that such a large quantity of hydrogen gas is being continuously injected in a blast furnace," he said.

Speaking on the company's operations in the Netherlands, Narendran said the transition from coal to gas to hydrogen is crucial for the country since Tata Steel Netherlands would rank among the region's major consumers of hydrogen. The industry leader added that hydrogen is a crucial component of the solution for the steel industry's transition to a more environmentally friendly future since, like coal, it plays a significant role in the reduction of emissions throughout the steel-making process. Approximately 8% of the global carbon footprint is caused by steel.