The main ambition of MECALO is to demonstrate its innovative concept of renewable hydrogen and carbon looping for CO2-neutral production of Silicon (Si) and Manganese (Mn). It also aims to revolutionise the production of essential materials for European industry, making it cleaner and more sustainable through the use of hydrogen. This will strengthen the EU’s capacities and resilience for a secured and sustainable supply of these critical raw materials (CRMs) in line with the European Critical Raw Materials Act, in a sustainable, carbon-neutral way.
Hydrogen derived from renewable energy sources is anticipated to play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions in a large portion of the EU’s metallurgical sector by 2050. Because its use produces no CO2 emissions, sustainably sourced hydrogen presents a viable option for decarbonizing these challenging industries. Various materials are produced through carbothermic reduction, which relies on fossil carbon as a raw material and generates CO2 as an unavoidable by-product. One potential application is as a replacement for fossil carbon in metallurgical processes, like iron production. However, hydrogen is a less effective reductant than carbon, so some metals cannot be produced directly with hydrogen, which presents a challenge. In the production of several strategically important metals, such as silicon and manganese – both classified as essential raw materials – hydrogen cannot directly substitute carbon, leaving fewer options for decarbonization. These metals are essential for advancing European clean technology initiatives and achieving the EU’s climate neutrality target by 2050.
The overarching goal of the MECALO project is to develop an innovative, CO2-free production model for critical raw materials, utilizing renewable hydrogen to eliminate the reliance on fossil carbon. The objectives include:
• Achieving a 95% reduction in CO2 emissions from Si and Mn production.
• Replacing 9 million tonnes of annual coal imports with 15 billion Nm³ of hydrogen by 2050.
• Saving 33 million tonnes of annual CO2 emissions by 2050.