The Zero-Carbon Manufacturing of Iron will Impact Climate Change Actions

Dr Chris Bumby and his Victoria University of Wellington team won the top innovation award for their zero-carbon iron production discovery at the HERA Future Forum Nation event.

HERA stands for Heavy Engineering Research Association, the organisation that runs the metal-based industry in New Zealand.

Dr. Bumby and his team’s research has produced positive results in the hydrogen reduction of iron ore. The article says their team has discovered a zero-carbon way to make iron that worked “especially well” with the New Zealand ironsand.

Zero-carbon iron production wins top innovation award

The article on Spinoff details how the team processes iron and steel in a zero-carbon way by using hydrogen and how this technology uses renewable energy to make the whole process genuinely zero-carbon.

The laboratory produces zero-carbon iron, but the company plans to expand its operations to meet the increasing demand for steel.

How to reduce the carbon cost of building our world with steel

Is producing zero-carbon steel possible at a scale, and if it is, how can it be done?

The article “The winding road toward zero-carbon iron” explains how.

Steel production is still one of the most energy-intensive industries and the highest emitters of CO2, like cement production.

Imagine the environmental benefits and impacts of climate change when carbon and fossil fuels are finally removed from the equation in iron and steel manufacturing.

The articles mentioned show that zero-carbon steel production is possible, although not without challenges.

It is up to big companies and governments to conduct further research and weather these challenges in accordance with climate adaptation and mitigation goals.