ArcelorMittal and John Cockerill announce plans to develop world’s
first industrial scale low temperature, iron electrolysis plant
Volteron™
plant targeted
to start-up in
2027
14 June
2023,
13:00 CET
ArcelorMittal, the world’s leading steel company, and John
Cockerill, a group leading the development of steel processing
facilities and electrolysers, today announce plans to construct the
world’s first industrial-scale low temperature, iron electrolysis
plant. The Volteron™ plant, which in a first phase will produce
between 40,000 and 80,000 tonnes a year of iron plates, is targeted
to start production in 2027. Once the technology has been proven at
this scale, the intention is to increase the plant’s annual
capacity to between 300,000 and 1 million tonnes.
ArcelorMittal and John Cockerill have been working together on
an innovative electrochemical process to transform iron oxide
into iron plates for the last few years. The successfully completed
project, formerly known as SIDERWIN, has to date been publicly
funded through the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme. In addition to
ArcelorMittal and John Cockerill, project partners have included
EDF, Tecnalia, Quantis, University of Aveiro, National Technical
University of Athens, Norwegian University of Science and
Technology, Dynergie, Recoy, CFD Numerics and Mytilineos. This next
phase of the project will be carried forward as an exclusive
partnership between ArcelorMittal and John Cockerill.
Volteron™ is a carbon free, cold direct electrolysis process
that extracts iron from iron ore using electricity. On a pilot
scale plant, the process has proved to be highly efficient using
standard iron ore. The iron plates created during the electrolysis
process are then processed into steel in an electric arc
furnace.
Commenting, Brad
Davey, EVP and head of corporate
business optimisation,
ArcelorMittal, said:
“This is a tremendously exciting development and opportunity for
our company. We have been working on direct electrolysis technology
for some time given the potential it holds to decarbonise
steelmaking. Having now proven our energy efficient, low
temperature process at a pilot level, the natural next step for us
is to progress to an industrial plant. We intend to achieve this
target within four years and be the first in the world to produce
steel at scale via low temperature electrolysis.
“It is a significant moment for ArcelorMittal, and for the
global steel industry. Direct electrolysis is a disruptive,
breakthrough technology. Although the technology needs to mature,
it could revolutionise how steel is made, removing carbon entirely
from steelmaking. We intend to be pioneers in that process.”
Sébastien Roussel,
President of John Cockerill Industry,
added:
“As a bicentennial technology leader in
steelmaking engineering and current world leader for electrolysis
dedicated to hydrogen production, we are extremely proud to develop
together with ArcelorMittal a technology that can be a significant
contribution to tackling global warming. We are convinced that
Volteron™ is the most energy efficient process to produce steel
without emitting CO2 and that it will soon become a real game
changer for the steelmaking industry.”
Direct electrolysis is one of three decarbonisation technology
pathways ArcelorMittal is working on to make net zero steelmaking a
reality. The other two are Smart Carbon and Innovative-DRI. The
Smart Carbon pathway involves modifying the blast furnace
steelmaking route and harnessing clean energy sources including
bioenergy and carbon capture and storage, while the Innovative-DRI
route involves using hydrogen as a replacement for fossil fuels to
make direct reduced iron, a metallic feedstock for steelmaking in
an electric arc furnace.
To learn more about ArcelorMittal’s climate action targets,
ambitions and projects visit
https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/climate-action.
To learn more about John Cockerill’s climate action
technologies, watch https://youtu.be/LPqrgK7FW9I.
ENDS
About ArcelorMittal
ArcelorMittal is the world's leading steel
company, with a presence in 60 countries and primary steelmaking
facilities in 16 countries. In 2022, ArcelorMittal had revenues of
$79.8 billion and crude steel production of 59 million metric
tonnes, while iron ore production reached 50.9 million metric
tonnes.
Our purpose is to produce ever smarter steels
that have a positive benefit for people and planet. Steels made
using innovative processes which use less energy, emit
significantly less carbon and reduce costs. Steels that are
cleaner, stronger and reusable. Steels for electric vehicles and
renewable energy infrastructure that will support societies as they
transform through this century. With steel at our core, our
inventive people and an entrepreneurial culture at heart, we will
support the world in making that change. This is what we believe it
takes to be the steel company of the future.
ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges
of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MT), Luxembourg (MT) and
on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and
Valencia (MTS).
For more information about ArcelorMittal please
visit: http://corporate.arcelormittal.com/
About John Cockerill
Driven since 1817 by its founder's
entrepreneurial spirit and thirst for innovation, John Cockerill
develops large-scale technological solutions to meet the needs of
its time: facilitating access to fossil free energies, enabling
responsible industrial production, preserving natural resources,
contributing to greener mobility and enhancing security. Today the
Group is a key player in the energy transition and the circular
economy offering companies, states and local authorities services
and associated equipment for the energy, defense, industry,
environment, transport and infrastructure sectors. With over 6,500
employees, John Cockerill achieved in 2022 a turnover of €1.1
billion in 23 countries, on 5 continents.
For more information about John Cockerill please
visit: www.johncockerill.com
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