Voestalpine has manufactured the world’s first hydrogen-based railway rail

As part of a pilot project, Austrian company Voestalpine has produced the world’s first hydrogen-based railway rail at its site in Donawitz. The new type of rail is made from a mixture of scrap metal and iron reduced with hydrogen – without the use of fossil fuels or CO2 emissions. This is stated in the company’s press release.

The iron was produced at the HYFOR (Hydrogen-based Fine Ore Reduction) pilot plant, and further smelting was carried out at the unique TechMet research metallurgical center. The finished product was rolled at a nearby rail rolling mill. The first such rail has already been installed at the central station in Linz.

“The production of the world’s first hydrogen-reduced rail at our Donawitz site is a historic milestone. To this end, we are already conducting research into several new processes and investing in pilot and presentation projects that demonstrate new steel production possibilities,” said Voestalpine CEO Herbert Eibensteiner.

The company plans to commission electric arc furnaces powered by green electricity at both of its main sites in Linz and Donawitz as early as 2027.

Hydrogen metallurgy technology involves the use of green hydrogen to separate oxygen from iron ore. Unlike traditional methods, this process does not produce CO2, only water vapor.

According to Voestalpine board member Franz Kainersdorfer, producing high-quality steel with low CO2 emissions is one of the most difficult tasks on the road to decarbonization.

“Our long-term goal by 2050 is net zero CO₂ emissions in steel production,” he emphasized.

Thanks to its innovations, the company is setting new standards in green steel production and transport infrastructure.

Voestalpine and Austria’s largest electricity supplier, VERBUND, have announced a major expansion of the H2FUTURE hydrogen research project in Linz, Austria, which is considered one of the longest-running in the world.