en.Wedoany.com Reported - A research project led by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia is exploring pathways to modify existing blast furnace technology for lower-carbon operations, a project expected to advance emission reduction in Australian steel production.

UNSW's Shen Lab is leading the development of an innovative process called "Renewable Injections-Sustainable Burdens" (RISB), aimed at supporting near-term decarbonization of blast furnace ironmaking. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has confirmed the specific progress of the project.

The project has been selected for ARENA's "Steel Research and Development Funding Round," which is part of the "Transformative Research Accelerating Commercialisation Program" (TRAC). This program aims to develop solutions for the Australian steel industry while driving the transition to low-carbon industrial processes.

The core of the RISB process involves integrating renewable injection materials and alternative burdens into traditional blast furnace operations. The research must address emission reduction in steel production while maintaining the use of Australia's major low-grade Pilbara iron ore.

ARENA believes that near-term R&D investment is a key factor in accelerating the technologies needed for Australia's broader net-zero transition. The project aims to develop and validate a low-carbon blast furnace ironmaking process that can be implemented using existing infrastructure, potentially reducing the need for entirely new production systems. The research will cover the use of renewable injection materials (including hydrogen-containing gases and bio-based alternatives) as well as sustainable burdens.

This research is part of broader efforts to identify commercially viable decarbonization pathways for the steel industry, which remains one of the largest industrial sources of greenhouse gas emissions globally. ARENA stated that the competitive funding round aims to encourage the development of technologies that can support domestic steel decarbonization and enhance the future competitiveness of Australian iron ore in emerging low-carbon markets. The project is currently focused on advancing R&D activities to assess the technical feasibility and practical application of the RISB process. ARENA noted that as the industry pursues emission reduction targets, this work aims to contribute to the development of low-carbon ironmaking technologies deployable in existing blast furnace operations.

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