Binding Solutions Limited (BSL), the developer of green steel technology, has announced the completion of significant upgrades to its R&D capabilities at its technology centre in Middlesbrough, UK.
BSL is now able to accelerate the commercialisation of its Cold Agglomerated Pellet (CAP) technology by offering clients – including iron ore miners – an enhanced range of research, technical support and product testing services significantly reducing development timelines.
Following the commissioning of the first phase of BSL’s pilot plant in November 2023, the company has now completed the commissioning of the second phase of the plant. The phase two expansion increases the pilot plant’s capabilities through the integration of an ore drying system, milling plant and pellet curing system. These additions significantly expand BSL’s processing capabilities, enabling the pelletisation of a wider variety of ores, BSL says.
In addition, new state of the art hot testing equipment has been installed and commissioned at the technology centre, enabling BSL to simulate conditions in direct reduction plants and blast furnaces to ensure its CAPs meet customer requirements covering key ISO standards. Due to significant demand, BSL is already conducting a feasibility study to further increase hot testing capacity, it says.
Julian Lee, CEO of Binding Solutions, said: “Our continued investment in our world leading Middlesbrough Technology Centre reflects our growing confidence in BSL’s cold agglomeration technology and the contribution it can make to enabling green steel production. The upgraded facilities will enable our team to work more closely with customers and accelerate the commercialisation of our technology.
“This further enhances the competitive advantage we are building through our investment, the deep expertise of our team and the growing technical know how we are building.”
BSL calls itself a fast-growing technology company, having developed a patented and proprietary process for significantly reducing carbon emissions in iron making, enabling green steel production at scale. Its cold agglomeration technology reduces process complexity, lowers capital requirements and significantly cuts emissions of CO2, NOx and SOx by replacing traditional technologies (induration) in iron and steel making.
It says it has commercially proven its technology at a major steel plant in the UK where it has operated since 2013. It enables reductions of up to:
- 80% in energy usage;
- 70% in carbon dioxide emissions; and
- 86% in capital expenditure.
BSL estimates that its technology has a very large addressable market of more than 1,000 Mt.
In August 2023, BSL successfully completed a $17.5 million fundraise from Mineral Resources Limited to support the development of a demonstration plant. BSL’s Pilot Plant completed Phase 2 and is fully operational, producing up to 2 t/hr of CAPs for large scale furnace trials.