Hazer eyes integration with POSCO for low-carbon steel
Technology development company Hazer is collaborating with South Korea’s POSCO to integrate its hydrogen production technology into POSCO’s low carbon steel manufacturing.
Hazer has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with POSCO, one of the world’s largest steek makers.
Under the MOU, POSCO and Hazer will collaborate to develop an integration plan for the Hazer technology.
They will also assess the application of Hazer’s low emissions graphite product in various parts of the steel making process, as well as a market investigation into the applications of Hazer graphite outside of steel.
The Hazer process enables the effective conversion of natural gas, and similar feedstocks, into hydrogen and high-quality graphite, using iron ore as a process catalyst.
The aim of the Hazer process is to achieve savings for the hydrogen producer, as well as providing ‘clean’ hydrogen with significant lower carbon dioxide emissions, enabling such hydrogen to be used in a range of developing ‘clean energy’ applications and in large existing chemical processing industries.
Hazer Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Glenn Corrie said the company had identified the steelmaking industry as one of its key strategic and commercial targets for the Hazer Process given it is a notoriously hard-to-abate sector.
“It is a great privilege and fantastic achievement to be working alongside such a large company that is dedicated to carbon neutrality,” Mr Corrie said.
“This MOU will enable the next phase of our scale-up strategy into this key market with a significant company known for its sustainability focus and innovation.
“We look forward to our future in decarbonising the steel making industry and achieving commercial success with POSCO.”
Steel making is a carbon intensive industry, responsible for over 8 per cent of global carbon emissions.
POSCO’s Head of Technical Research Lab and Senior Executive Vice President, Dr Seong-yeon Kim said the company was focused on the reduction of emissions from the steel making process.
It has committed to reducing worksite emissions by 10 per cent by 2030, 50 per cent by 2040 and being 100 per cent carbon neutral by 2050.
“We believe Hazer’s unique technology offers important benefits that enable us to achieve our Net Zero vision as set out in our 2050 Carbon Neutrality Roadmap,” he said.
Hazer Group won the Energy Club WA's Industry Gamechanger Award in 2020.