Nippon Steel cuts carbon emissions by a third through hydrogen trial

Nippon Steel, Japan's largest steel manufacturer, has declared a significant achievement in emission reduction, reporting a 33% decrease in emissions from a trial blast furnace through the injection of heated hydrogen over a month. This marks the most substantial CO2 reduction achieved through this method to date. Although Nippon Steel has alluded to procuring hydrogen externally for the Super COURSE50 initiative, aimed at minimizing the use of coking coal in favor of hydrogen, specific details about the ratio of hydrogen to coking coal in the blast furnace and the hydrogen's production method (fossil gas or electrolysis) remain undisclosed.

The company's objective is to achieve a 50% reduction in emissions from existing blast furnaces through hydrogen injection, having previously announced a 22% CO2 reduction in August using this method. Nippon Steel plans to implement its COURSE50 technology, which repurposes hydrogen generated during coking coal combustion in a blast furnace, at its No. 2 blast furnace in the East Nippon Works in Kimitsu starting January 2026. Additionally, the Super COURSE50 process, involving the injection of externally sourced hydrogen, is scheduled for deployment by 2050.

Both hydrogen injection techniques received support from the NEDO research and development agency, which allocated up to $1.3 billion for a broader decarbonization initiative led by Nippon Steel.