Paul Wurth (PW) was founded 1870 as a boiler making company and has developed over the years to a world leader in metallurgical plant engineering and plant building. Since 2013 Paul Wurth is part of the German SMS Group, which holds 60 % of PW shares. Since 2014 PW is licensee of MIDREX corporation, specialists and market leaders in natural gas based iron reduction plants. In recent years, PW has defined digitalization and environmental protection as the top strategic targets for the company. One of the major aspects in the field of environmental protection is the replacement of carbon by hydrogen as reduction material, as the steel industry contributes with 7% to the global CO2 emissions. In light of that strategy, PW has invested into the German company Sunfire GmbH who are the leading company in solid oxide electrolyser technology for efficient production of hydrogen. Together with MIDREX and Sunfire, we have extensively looked into the direct reduction of iron ore with hydrogen and are in good progress to define the process technology for industrial scale application.

In the course of this 112CO2, PW will include the hydrogen production via methane splitting into their work towards the feasibility comparison of the routes Blast Furnace versus H2 reduction based on electrolysis and H2 reduction based on methane splitting and carbon storage.

Additionally, PW will provide some insight into possible markets for carbon black material, which will be produced as by product during methane splitting, for instance for the production of EAF electrodes, steel production. 

More info: http://www.paulwurth.com/