World-First Test Production of Fossil-Free Hydrogen-Reduced Sponge Iron Completed
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A pioneering pilot project in Lulea, Sweden, designed to produce “fossil-free” steel has successfully completed test production of sponge iron, demonstrating it is possible to use hydrogen made with fossil-free power to reduce iron ore, instead of coal and coke.
Swedish energy company Vattenfall, mining company LKAB, and steel manufacturer SSAB—companies that are collaborating under the joint initiative, dubbed “HYBRIT”—hailed the achievement as a technological breakthrough that “is a decisive step on the road to fossil-free steel.”
“Production has been continuous and of good quality,” the companies announced on June 21. “Around 100 tonnes have been made so far.”
As HYBRIT explains it, the ore-based steelmaking value chain starts at the iron ore mine, where the ore is processed in the form of pellets, or “fines.” At a steelmaking site, the iron ore is conventionally converted to metallic iron by reduction of the iron ore pellets with coke in a blast furnace.…
FERC-NARUC Task Force Will Tackle Transmission Issues
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Two groups concerned with issues regarding the regulation and production of U.S. electricity have announced formation of a joint federal-state task force on power transmission, an effort to better identify the costs and benefits associated with electric power projects, and support the buildout of renewable energy resources.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), an independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of energy, and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) on June 17 said the Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission “will explore transmission-related issues to identify and realize the benefits that transmission can provide, while ensuring that the costs are allocated efficiently and fairly””
The initiative, established by a FERC order on Thursday, said the groups would work together on “efficient development of new transmission infrastructure,” which is seen as “essential as the nation continues to transition to clean energy resources.”
“It is increasingly clear that interstate transmission will play a critical role in the transition to the clean energy future,” said FERC Chair Richard Glick in a Twitter post announcing the task force.…
NRG Will Close 3 Coal Plants After Poor Auction Results
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NRG Energy Inc. said it will retire three coal-fired power plants—two in Illinois and one in Delaware—next year after disappointing results in the May 2021 capacity auction for the PJM Interconnection.
NRG during its June 17 investor day presentation said about 1.6 GW of coal-fired generation would be closed, including the 682-MW Waukegan and 510-MW Will County (Romeoville) plants in Illinois, along with the 410-MW Indian River plant in Delaware. The announcement was made by Christopher Moser, NRG’s executive vice president of operations. The plants account for about 55% of NRG’s coal-fired generation capacity in PJM.
“Closing these plants was a difficult, but necessary decision,” NRG said in a statement.
Moser said the three facilities would be retired in June 2022. …