Greening the Steel Value Chain

Innovation will be key to accelerating the clean energy transition and reaching a net zero economy. Edison Energy is following the latest innovations in decarbonization across technologies, projects, and programs, from conception through completion.

The innovation

Molten Oxide Electrolysis (MOE)

The big picture

MOE will help decarbonize steelmaking.

The players

Boston Metal, a metallurgy company based in Woburn, Massachusetts. The MOE process was invented at the lab-scale at MIT and Boston Metal has since scaled the technology over 1,000x.

How it works

MOE technology uses electricity to transform metals from a raw oxide form into high-purity molten metal products, facilitating CO₂ emissions-free steel production from a wide array of iron ores in a potentially more efficient, less costly, and more sustainable way.

Powered by renewable electricity, MOE converts iron ore into liquid metal and oxygen. The process eliminates the need for coke production, iron ore processing, blast furnace reduction and basic oxygen furnace refinement.

The MOE technology platform can be scaled to meet production capacity targets.

Why it matters

Steelmaking is one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries, responsible for approximately 8% of total global CO2 emissions. Global steel players are feeling the heat, with increased pressure to decarbonize from investors, customers, and employees. In response, seven out of 10 major steel-producing countries have launched at least one green steel project, according to the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT).

The MOE technology will help companies and organizations green their upstream and downstream supply chains and meet critical sustainability targets.

Next Steps

Boston Metal is currently scaling up its technology at its test facility and working towards the commercialization of its technology platform that will produce the carbon emissions-free steel.

Accolades

In 2021, Boston Metal won S&P Global Platts’ New Technology for the Metals and Mining Industry award. The technology has also been recognized by BNEF, Global Cleantech 100, and the World Economic Forum.

Stay tuned for the next installment of the Energy Edge Innovation Series!