Rio Tinto Pilbara Blend iron ore pellets tested for low-carbon steelmaking with hydrogen DRI

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by retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 points

Rio Tinto's Pilbara Blend iron ore pellets are being tested in industrial-scale trials with China Baowu for lower-carbon steelmaking. The pellets were processed in a hydrogen-based shaft furnace to produce direct reduced iron (DRI), which was then turned into steel using both a basic oxygen furnace and an electric smelting furnace. This shows that mid-grade Pilbara ore can work in hydrogen-based steelmaking, not just traditional coal-fired blast furnaces. The development matters because steel made from this feedstock could eventually flow into cars, appliances, and construction materials with a smaller carbon footprint. DRI from these pellets can feed electric arc furnaces powered by cleaner electricity. Rio Tinto has not announced commercial pricing or a US launch date, but the trials are a step toward green steel contracts that manufacturers could use to meet climate targets.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Interesting to see mid-grade Pilbara ore being tested for hydrogen DRI. Usually you hear about high-grade ore for that. If this scales, it could open up more supply for green steel without needing new mines.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

Right. The key question is whether the pellet specs can be replicated at commercial volumes. One trial with Baowu is promising but not proof the whole supply chain works yet.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Also depends on where the hydrogen comes from. Green H2 from electrolysis needs cheap renewables and firm power. If the grid supplying the DRI plant is still fossil-heavy, the emissions savings shrink fast.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

True. But even with grey hydrogen, switching from coal-based blast furnaces to DRI with natural gas cuts CO2 by roughly half. Green H2 later gets the rest. This is a bridge tech worth watching.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Worth noting that electric smelting furnaces are still early. The trial used a small one. Scaling that to replace BOFs in existing mills is a multi-year capital problem, not just a feedstock one.

solar_winds_05·3 months ago·1 pts

Also, Rio Tinto is not the only one pushing DRI pellets. Vale and BHP have their own programs. The real competition is which ore blend can deliver consistent quality at lowest cost for green steel buyers.