NRRI News Release: MN leads innovation in hydrogen-based green iron and steel

State identified as hub for low-emission, economically feasible steel production, securing federal funding to accelerate industry transformation.

DULUTH, Minn. – A new venture has reached a critical milestone in the pursuit of constructing a first-of-its-kind, one-gigawatt hydrogen-based green iron plant.

The University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI), along with industry, community and governmental partners, was awarded $1.3 million by DOE’s Office of Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization (IEDO) to assess the prospective plant’s economic and technical feasibility. If successful, it would represent a path toward a secure, low-carbon domestic supply of iron for the U.S. steel industry, and its findings could be applied to other carbon-intensive industries. 

The award marks the first project under the Midwest Industrial Transformation Initiative (MITI) to transition bedrock American industries to a new era of global leadership. It launches a nationally unique collaboration between NRRI, the Great Plains Institute (GPI), West Central Research and Outreach Center, and a consortium of community-based organizations, government agencies, Tribal governments, organized labor, and industry partners.

“This green iron project will be the first of its kind, putting the U.S. on a trajectory to maintain global competitiveness as the demand for green iron and other critical materials grows,” said NRRI Executive Director Rolf Weberg. “This ambitious effort will create a secure domestic supply chain for steel production and decrease our dependence on international materials.” 

Ida Rukavina, Commissioner of Minnesota’s Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation added: “As the nation’s primary source of iron ore, the Mesabi Iron Range is poised for green iron innovations. Our region’s abundant natural resources have long been a driver of national prosperity, and we’re ready to lead in these critical industry transformations.”

The project has already received significant financial and in-kind support from the State of Minnesota, industry partners, and foundations. Extensive public engagement is also underway across Minnesota to collect input and align the project with the priorities of utilities, Tribes, communities, government agencies and union organizations.  

The ultimate goal of MITI is to provide a national and global model of industrial transformation across four critical sectors -- iron/steel, cement/concrete, ammonia/fertilizers, and liquid fuels -- in the State of Minnesota. This involves co-located, cross-coupled industries that directly link renewable energy and electrolytic hydrogen to production, replacing fossil carbon-based fuels and feedstocks in industrial processes. This will increase domestic production of energy and materials, enhance global competitiveness of essential industries, support national security, reduce emissions, and create new jobs and skilled workforce development.  

IMAGE TOP: A national lab study showed that Minnesota has all the resources needed to support a green iron production plant. (Image Credit: NREL/Kazaishvili)