Thyssenkrupp marks ten years of Carbon2Chem decarbonisation project

Thyssenkrupp is marking the tenth anniversary of its Carbon2Chem research initiative, which aims to use CO₂ and other components from steelmaking gases as raw materials for chemicals and synthetic fuels.

Launched in 2016, the project links steel production with the chemical and energy sectors and now involves more than 20 partners from industry and research. These include several Thyssenkrupp companies as well as institutes such as the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion and Fraunhofer UMSICHT.

The project is supported by Germany's Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Aerospace.

Steel gases become chemical feedstock

Carbon2Chem is based on the idea of treating components contained in metallurgical gases, including carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, as useful feedstocks rather than waste streams. These can potentially be converted into products such as methanol, ammonia and synthetic fuels.

"We view CO₂ and other components of blast furnace gases not as waste, but as raw materials," said Matthias Kammel, Managing Director of Thyssenkrupp Carbon2Chem. "We use these raw materials to close carbon cycles and systematically link steel production, the energy sector, and the chemical industry."

A technical centre in Duisburg has been used to test the relevant process steps under industrial conditions and generate data for potential large-scale applications.

Focus shifts towards industrial scale

After a decade of development work, Thyssenkrupp says the project is increasingly moving from demonstration towards industrial implementation.

The company sees potential for carbon recycling technologies in both large industrial installations and smaller applications. According to Markus Oles, project coordinator for the participating industrial companies, interest in using carbon as a raw material is increasing across different industries.

The project also includes green hydrogen production. An existing electrolysis hall in Duisburg houses a Thyssenkrupp Nucera pilot electrolyser, while a second electrolysis facility is now planned to increase hydrogen availability for continuous industrial operation.

Sustainable aviation fuel planned in Duisburg

A further development is the planned construction of a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) facility in Duisburg. The project would extend Carbon2Chem's carbon-utilisation approach beyond steel and chemicals into aviation fuels.

"The next phase is beginning—with the goal of translating what we’ve learned to an industrial scale," Kammel said.

For the steel sector, Carbon2Chem represents one potential route for reducing the climate impact of existing integrated steelmaking by converting carbon-containing process gases into usable products while the industry progressively shifts towards lower-emission production technologies.

Source and Photo: Thyssenkrupp