German steelmaker Salzgitter Flachstahl has chosen Energiron DR technology for its new direct reduction plant, to be installed at its historical facility in Salzgitter, Lower Saxony, Germany. The site specializes in the production of hot- and cold-rolled flat products.
According to Danieli, the order for this hydrogen-ready plant is an important step in the technology transition of Salzgitter Flachstahl from ironmaking to electric steelmaking, which targets a final 95% carbon emission reduction.
The DRI produced by the 2.1 Mt/yr, Zero-reformer Energiron DR plant will, says Danieli, allow sustainable production of quality, hot-strip coils through a new electric steel melt shop.
During the contract signing ceremony on 23 May, Gunnar Groebler, chairman of the executive board of Salzgitter AG commented: "We are underpinning our motto 'A new way of thinking for a new industry' today with a clear signal to the market. As early as 2026, we will be in a position to produce significant quantities of green steel and make it available to our customers. I am pleased and also a little proud that we, as a pioneer with fully up-front financing for the first stage of our transformation programme, have today awarded this contract to our strong partners. We have thus taken a decisive step forward on the way to a scheduled start of production of the SALCOS® route in 2026."
"As early as 2026, we will be in a position to produce significant quantities of green steel and make it available to our customers. I am pleased and also a little proud that we, as a pioneer with fully up-front financing for the first stage of our transformation programme, have today awarded this contract to our strong partners."
Gunnar Groebler, chairman of the executive board of Salzgitter AG .
Giacomo Mareschi Danieli, CEO of Danieli, added “Danieli is proud to be beside Salzgitter Flachstahl in this outstanding project that will be a lighthouse for the steel industry decarbonization. The use of the Energiron technology, jointly developed by Danieli and Tenova, is a definitive step towards a green steel era, with the possibility to use different amounts of hydrogen, up to 100%, as an alternative reducing agent in order to lower more and more the carbon footprint, without changing the standard and mature plant configuration. We are fully committed as a technological partner of Salzgitter to make this a great success.”
"The use of the Energiron technology, jointly developed by Danieli and Tenova, is a definitive step towards a green steel era, with the possibility to use different amounts of hydrogen, up to 100%, as an alternative reducing agent in order to lower more and more the carbon footprint, without changing the standard and mature plant configuration."
Giacomo Mareschi Danieli, CEO of Danieli.
The order includes the patented Hytemp® system for hot-DRI pneumatic transport for hot charging into an EAF at up to 600 °C, generating energy savings, it is claimed. The plant will be capable of producing cold DRI too.
Hybrid by design, Energiron technology makes it possible to use natural gas as a reducing agent with the possibility to use hydrogen up to 100% or any mix of these. Danieli says that the use of some natural gas during the DR process is appropriate for adding a minimum of carbon needed during melting.
Danieli claims that the technology has the capability to capture and use CO2, which will further reduce overall plant carbon emissions and provide an additional revenue stream for the plant operations.
The start-up of the new Energiron DRI plant, which is likely to be by July 2026, will, says Danieli be 'the first cornerstone towards a “hard-to-abate industry decarbonization” in Europe'.
A second Energiron direct reduction plant will be installed in the next phase of development at the same Salzgitter site.
Energiron DR technology is jointly developed by Tenova and Danieli.