#China #Shanghai #green steel #Baowu #ROTOBOOST

ROTOBOOST and Baowu's Innovative Partnership

On October 21, 2025, ROTOBOOST, a Finnish technology firm, announced its official collaboration with Baowu Clean Energy, the world’s largest steelmaker. The unveiling took place in Shanghai and marked the beginning of an ambitious project under the auspices of the Joint Innovation Call between Business Finland and China's Ministry of Science and Technology. This groundbreaking initiative aims to industrialize the use of Thermo-Catalytic Decomposition (TCD) technology, which facilitates the production of low-carbon hydrogen and high-quality solid carbon essential for low-emission steel making as well as aluminum production.

The Necessity of Change in the Steel and Aluminum Industries

Steel and aluminum are integral to global infrastructure and manufacturing, yet they remain significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Traditional production methods are energy-intensive, exacerbating the climate crisis. Hence, it is crucial to shift towards sustainable practices. To this end, the cooperation between ROTOBOOST and Baowu aims to address critical challenges in achieving large-scale decarbonization in these industries.

The initiative promises a two-faceted advantage: it pairs deep emissions reductions with compelling economic benefits. Utilizing Baowu’s extensive experience and ROTOBOOST’s innovative technology offers a promising path toward greener production while maintaining profitability.

Breakdown of the Innovative Technology

ROTOBOOST's Thermo-Catalytic Decomposition technology effectively splits natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon, without generating direct CO₂ emissions in the process. This technology allows for an on-demand supply of hydrogen needed for steelmaking, while also producing high-value carbon that can be used industrially.

The TCD's significance was further validated in May 2025 when ROTOBOOST became the first company in this sector to gain TÜV SÜD certification, confirming the low-carbon footprint of both its hydrogen and carbon outputs.

Key Project Areas and Objectives

The collaboration focuses on several main objectives:

• - Stable Low-Carbon Hydrogen Supply: Ensure a reliable and economically viable hydrogen supply at Baowu operations to enable various hydrogen-dependent production techniques, specifically direct reduced iron (DRI) and electric arc furnace (EAF) methods.
• - Production-Grade Carbon Utilization: Leverage ROTOBOOST’s solid carbon in production applications such as electrode manufacturing and composite materials, vital for the steel and aluminum sectors.
• - Commercial Deployment Assurance: Monitor and operate modular TCD units under real-world commercial settings to assess hydrogen volumes and the performance of produced materials.
• - Data Capture and Certification: Collect essential operational data for developing auditable lifecycle assessments and greenhouse gas inventories, enabling third-party verification of emissions reductions for customer reporting and compliance.

A Vision for Future Developments

As the project unfolds, it is positioned to tackle significant barriers in the path to industrial decarbonization, specifically around reliability, cost efficiency, and operational integration. By gathering substantial technical and economic insights, the partners intend to create a replicable blueprint for implementing future large-scale projects in the global steel and aluminum industries.

With joint engineering and safety studies set to begin immediately, the project’s phased deployment and validation stages will inform a broader rollout across the sectors. ROTOBOOST and Baowu’s commitment to pioneering sustainable practices is a beacon of hope, suggesting that the steel and aluminum industries can thrive in alignment with environmental stewardship.

About the Companies

ROTOBOOST

ROTOBOOST specializes in TCD technology aimed at offering solutions for low-carbon hydrogen and solid carbon production, addressing diverse industrial needs. The company's ability to set up modular systems on-site supports the seamless transition to cleaner energy outputs.

Baowu Clean Energy

Under the Baowu Group banner, Baowu Clean Energy focuses on advancing clean energy practices and innovative processing mechanisms to enhance green steel production. Their partnership with ROTOBOOST illustrates their commitment to leading the industry towards decarbonization.