NEDO entrusts Kobe Steel with study on hydrogen utilization model at Takasago Works for decarbonization of factories that mainly consume energy as heat

Kobe Steel, Ltd. announces today that the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) selected on December 3, 2021 “the study on hydrogen utilization model for decarbonization of factories that mainly consume energy as heat” proposed by Kobe Steel and Kobelco E&M Co., Ltd. as the research on potential for hydrogen production and utilization under the Development of Technologies for Realizing a Hydrogen Society (Development of Technologies for Regional Hydrogen Utilization).

This study aims to promote the use of CO₂-free hydrogen carrier in major energy-consuming facilities such as industrial furnaces and boilers for decarbonization of factories utilizing thermal energy. The companies will survey energy consuming-facilities actually in operation at Takasago Works of Kobe Steel (Takasago city, Hyogo prefecture, Japan) to identify technical issues in energy transition from conventional fuel such as natural gas to hydrogen carrier and develop models for production, supply and utilization of hydrogen carrier.

The companies will work to propose the medium- to long-term decarbonization plan to gradually expand the hydrogen carrier utilization, which can be implemented by factories while continuing their existing business.

The Kobe Steel Group (also known as the KOBELCO Group) will strive to contribute to the utilization of hydrogen and the decarbonization of factories.