The Hydrogen Stream: Posco, BHP advance hydrogen reduction ironmaking technology
Source：pv-magazine
South Korea’s Posco and Australia’s BHP have signed a collaboration agreement to advance Posco’s hydrogen reduction ironmaking technology, HyREX, following a memorandum of understanding signed in October 2025. HyREX combines hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) production using fluidized bed reactors (FBRs) with an electric smelting furnace (ESF) that melts the reduced iron. The HyREX process is designed to replace coal-based blast furnace steelmaking with hydrogen and electricity from renewable sources, reducing associated carbon dioxide emissions. Unlike many hydrogen-based ironmaking processes that rely on processed iron ore pellets, HyREX is designed to use fine iron ore directly. In the process, heated hydrogen passes through a series of fluidized bed reactors, suspending fine iron ore particles and removing oxygen from the ore. The reaction produces direct reduced hydrogen (DRI) and water vapor. The DRI is then transferred to an ESF, where it is melted and impurities are separated as slag. The ESF can process lower- and medium-grade iron ores, making the characteristics of the feedstock an important consideration. Under the collaboration, Posco and BHP will test BHP’s Australian fine iron ores to assess their suitability for the HyREX process, including their performance in fluidized bed reactors. The testing forms part of Posco’s plans to commercialize HyREX technology by 2030. “Under this agreement, Posco plans to verify the performance of HyREX technology in various raw material environments using BHP’s iron ore and strengthen the foundation for technology commercialization based on this,” said Posco.
The Valencian government has approved €76 million ($88.1 million) in direct grants for two projects led by BP and its subsidiary Castellón Green Hydrogen Phase 2. Of the total, €66.31 million will go to Castellón Green Hydrogen Phase 2 for a large-scale renewable hydrogen demonstration project, while BP Energía España will receive €9.7 million for a large-scale demonstration of advanced pretreatment technologies for sustainable biofuels, the regional government said. The funding will be distributed from 2026 to 2029, with €4.36 million allocated for 2026, €27.80 million for 2027, €34.07 million for 2028 and €9.78 million for 2029.
French gas transmission system operator NaTran and Germany’s Creos Deutschland have started construction of the German section of mosaHYc, a cross-border hydrogen pipeline network. The approximately 17 km pipeline between Leidingen and Dillingen is the first hydrogen pipeline in the German state of Saarland. “After the final planning approval decision, the pipe and civil engineering work can now begin,” Creos Deutschland said, adding that construction is expected to take around 18 months.
Uniper has completed the expressions of interest (EoI) phase for its planned hydrogen import terminal in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, saying the process confirmed market interest in the project. The German energy company said the terminal’s modular design would provide an initial import capacity that could be expanded to a maximum annual throughput of 2.6 million metric tons of ammonia, equivalent to around 350,000 metric tons of hydrogen. Uniper said it could launch one or more additional open seasons if market demand supports an expansion. The company said it will now advance development, permitting and commercialization activities.