The Figure shows the world's first 1,200 kt hydrogen metallurgy engineering demonstration project of HBIS Zhangxuan Tech designed by CERI. 

Build a Global Benchmark for Hydrogen Metallurgy Projects 

In May 2023, the 1,200 kt Hydrogen Metallurgy Demonstration Project of HBIS Zhangxuan Tech designed by CERI was officially put into operation, marking the world's first hydrogen metallurgy project of coke oven coal gas zero reforming shaft furnace from theory to industrial practice; in September 2024, the hydrogen refueling station contracted by CERI EP ( designing and procurement) was successfully put into operation, which successfully injected green hydrogen into the hydrogen metallurgy project and achieved a breakthrough in green hydrogen metallurgy; in December 2024, The world's first hydrogen metallurgy green automotive plate continuous casting production line under the EPC (designing, procurement and construction) of CERI was put into operation, opening up a low-carbon technical route for producing automotive plates with hydrogen metallurgy electric furnaces. This once again demonstrates China steel sector's pragmatic actions and innovative demonstration to continuously lead the green and low-carbon development of the global iron and steel industry. 

The project takes "reconstructing the metallurgical energy consumption system" as its core and has made major breakthroughs one after another. The zero reforming process of coke oven coal gas uses coke oven coal gas, a byproduct of coking with a hydrogen content of 60%, as a reducing agent. Through the independent development of gas zero reforming in-situ hardening and tempering technology, the hydrogen-carbon ratio of the reducing gas exceeds 8:1, close to the full hydrogen state. Phase I of the project uses coke oven coal gas as a transitional gas source and reserves a green hydrogen connection design; Phase II will combine the wind and solar energy resources in Zhangjiakou, Hebei to achieve 100% green hydrogen smelting and create a zero-carbon industrial chain of "green electricity-green hydrogen-green steel". Phase I of the project has been in continuous production for 2 years, with a product metallization rate of more than 94.5%, reaching above the international Class I standard, and various indicators are constantly refreshing and creating new world records. Compared with the traditional blast furnace process, this project reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 800 kt/a, with a reduction rate of 70%. Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and dust emissions are reduced by 30%, 70% and 80% respectively. The China Iron and Steel Association evaluated it as "a major breakthrough in the innovation of core key technologies in hydrogen metallurgy." 

The Figure shows the schematic model of CERI's new short-process metallurgy of "hydrogen metallurgy + high-efficiency electric arc furnace + Castrip® thin strip casting and rolling". 

Enhance the Global Competitiveness of "Green Steel" 

Currently, downstream companies such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW have required suppliers to provide "green steel" certification. CERI's hydrogen metallurgy technology has not only solved the carbon emission dilemma for the industry, but also opened up the market door for high-end products. 

In terms of product advantages, direct reduced iron (DRI) produced by hydrogen metallurgy has extremely low content of harmful elements and can be used as a high-quality raw material for electric arc furnace steelmaking to replace low-quality steel scrap and significantly improve the purity of special steel. After the electric arc furnace is equipped with 30% to 50% DRI, the nitrogen content in the liquid steel drops from 80 ppm to less than 25 ppm, reaching the production standard for high-demand steel grades such as automotive plates. In terms of economic benefits, the project's labor costs are reduced by 75%, and its international competitiveness is greatly enhanced through carbon tax avoidance and "green steel" premium. At present, more than 60 kinds of low-carbon steel produced by HBIS Zhangxuan Tech have been exported to well-known companies around the world. 

In addition, CERI has also built an intelligent management and control system for hydrogen metallurgy and a digital twin of steel mills through digital empowerment to realize full-process carbon emission tracking and optimization, provide full life cycle carbon footprint reports for export products, and accurately respond to international market demand. 

Open a New Chapter of Zero-carbon Casting 

In February 2025, CERI and Xinjiang Hengtai signed a cooperation agreement to jointly build the 1,200 kt/a Solar Photovoltaic Hydrogen Production-Hydrogen-based Shaft Furnace Metal Pellets Project. Relying on Xinjiang's abundant wind and solar resources, the project uses green electricity to electrolyze water to produce hydrogen and produce high-purity precision castings, realizing a leap from "high-carbon casting" to "zero-carbon intelligent manufacturing". 

The project realizes the application of all-green hydrogen, combining photovoltaic hydrogen production with hydrogen metallurgy technology for the first time to create a "zero carbon" closed loop. On this basis, CERI actively promotes industrial chain coordination and links green energy, hydrogen metallurgy and high-end casting to provide low-carbon equipment manufacturing solutions for countries and regions along the "Belt and Road". 

CERI's hydrogen metallurgy layout is not limited to technological breakthroughs, but also committed to building a whole industry chain ecology. CERI has set up a hydrogen metallurgy R&D team led by doctors and planned the blueprint of "zero carbon steel plant", which is based on green electricity and green hydrogen, integrating intelligent and near-net-shape manufacturing technologies to realize "zero interface, zero carbon emission and zero waste" in steel production.