‘Green Iron Project’ Paves Way for Hydrogen-Based Steel Manufacturing

DULUTH, Minn.– A first of its kind project using hydrogen-based energy is in limbo after a federal pause on grants loans took place but was quickly revoked.

That first of a kind project is called ‘Green Iron Project’, and it centers around the conversion of iron into steel using a hydrogen energy plant.

The Minnesota Natural Resource Institute has a pending grant of 1.3 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Energy, which would go towards this project.

Administration officials say, the president intends to revisit the list of grants for “further review”.

But with everything at a standstill, the director of MNRI says, they feel this project is crucial.

“It hits on energy stability; it talks about new jobs and workforce development for new steel sets that is necessary to do this. It’s investment into critical industry for the country. It drives global competitiveness for American products worldwide,” said Rolf Wegberg, Executive Director at Natural Research Institute at UMN.

The study is expected to take around a year.

And if successful, it would pave the way for a secure, low carbon domestic supply of iron for U.S. steel.