Japan Produces Green Hydrogen Reduced Iron Prototype for Steel Decarbonization

Japan has achieved a significant milestone in sustainable steel production after New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), JFE Steel Corporation, and project partners successfully produced a prototype of reduced iron using green hydrogen for the first time in Japan. The demonstration supports ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions from steel manufacturing while proving that renewable hydrogen can serve as an effective reducing agent in iron production. Approximately one ton of reduced iron was manufactured during the project, marking an important technical achievement for hydrogen-based steelmaking.

The green hydrogen used in the demonstration was generated at the Komekurayama Electric Power Storage Technology Research Site in Kofu City. The facility utilizes renewable energy together with a 1.5-megawatt PEM-type water electrolysis system manufactured by Kanadevia Corporation. This production process enables hydrogen generation without fossil fuel emissions, providing a cleaner alternative for industrial applications and supporting broader decarbonization objectives within the steel sector.

To evaluate hydrogen-based ironmaking, JFE Steel established a small-scale hydrogen reduction pilot plant at its East Japan Works (Chiba Site). The facility has a production capacity of 15 kilograms of reduced iron per hour and has been conducting operational testing since December 2024. The pilot plant is designed to verify hydrogen reduction technologies under controlled conditions while supporting future development of low-carbon steel manufacturing processes.

For the demonstration, green hydrogen produced by Yamanashi Hydrogen Company Inc and Tomoe Shokai Co Ltd at the Komekurayama research site was transported by trailer to the Chiba pilot facility. Hydrogen reduction tests performed with this renewable hydrogen successfully confirmed the feasibility of producing reduced iron using green hydrogen, providing practical validation for the technology and reinforcing its potential role in future decarbonized steel production systems.

Green Hydrogen Supply Chain Demonstration Results

The project combined renewable electricity generation, hydrogen production, transportation, and hydrogen reduction into a complete demonstration of an integrated supply chain. By successfully manufacturing approximately one ton of reduced iron with renewable hydrogen, the participating organizations demonstrated that multiple technologies can operate together as part of a practical industrial process. The achievement represents an important step toward lowering emissions from one of the world's most carbon-intensive manufacturing industries while supporting continued research and future commercialization efforts.

Project Highlights

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of Japan producing reduced iron using green hydrogen?
The successful production of reduced iron using green hydrogen demonstrates that renewable hydrogen can replace conventional fossil-fuel-based reducing agents in steel manufacturing. The project confirms the technical feasibility of hydrogen-based ironmaking while integrating renewable electricity, hydrogen production, transportation, and industrial processing into one demonstration. This achievement supports long-term decarbonization of the steel industry and provides valuable operational experience for future commercial-scale hydrogen steelmaking projects.

Which organizations participated in the green hydrogen steelmaking project?
The project involved the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, JFE Steel Corporation, Kanadevia Corporation, Yamanashi Hydrogen Company Inc, and Tomoe Shokai Co Ltd. Green hydrogen was produced using renewable energy in Kofu City, transported to JFE Steel's pilot facility in Chiba, and successfully used in hydrogen reduction tests that verified the production of reduced iron through a low-carbon manufacturing process.