At times, unconventional ideas can lead to innovative solutions. This is evident in the case of Helios, an Israeli company that embarked on a mission in 2018 to develop technologies making lunar habitation economically viable. While pursuing this goal, Helios serendipitously discovered that its technology could address a significant challenge on Earth: mitigating carbon emissions in the steel industry to combat climate change.
Situated on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, Helios specializes in space technologies designed to extract oxygen from lunar regolith, a layer of loose dust and rocks on the Moon. This breakthrough is crucial for reducing space travel costs, as a substantial portion of expenses involves transporting oxygen from Earth for astronauts and rocket propulsion systems. Since 45% of lunar soil mass comprises oxygen, extracting it promises to substantially cut the expenses of future space activities, with oxygen constituting over 75% of propellant weight.
Helios faced the challenge of producing oxygen and construction materials from lunar soil, similar to iron ore, without utilizing carbon, as is conventionally done with iron oxide on Earth. The company developed a technology employing sodium as the reducing agent. In a two-step process, sodium first reduces transition metals like iron, and then the resulting sodium oxides are dissociated to recover sodium in metal form. Through testing, Helios demonstrated the ability to produce iron from iron ore solely using thermal energy, without direct CO2 emissions.
A Transformative Impact on the Steel Industry
Recognizing the potential game-changing implications for sustainability, Helios approached the steel industry to share its findings. The technology, it turns out, can seamlessly integrate into existing energy infrastructure in steel mills, lowering adoption costs and expediting implementation. Additionally, the process operates at lower temperatures, reducing energy consumption and production costs compared to current methods.
This innovation has the potential to revolutionize the conversion of mineral ores into metals, contributing to the global shift toward a greener future. Its application in the steel industry could play a pivotal role in achieving sustainable growth.
This is no small feat, as the steel industry is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, accounting for 7% of the total. Existing decarbonization technologies have their merits but also limitations. Carbon capture and storage demand significant investments, while recycling is constrained by slow processing times and insufficient supply. Hydrogen-based processes and electricity-driven solutions, while promising, face challenges related to cost and energy intensity.
Helios’ process offers an additional advantage – it works with low-grade iron ore, ensuring a reliable and sustainable supply of raw material for steel production amid concerns about a potential shortage of high-grade iron ore in the future.
Andrea Siciliani, an aerospace engineer and climate technology investor at TechEnergy Ventures, commends Helios for its commitment to innovative and sustainable solutions. He highlights the technology’s use of a low-temperature, thermally-driven process that holds the potential to surpass current cost-effectiveness while producing zero CO2 emissions.
TechEnergy Ventures, the venture capital arm of Tecpetrol, has invested in Helios, recognizing the disruptive nature of this technology and the expertise of Helios’ diverse team. Beyond impacting iron production, the technology opens doors for applications in other transition metals crucial to the energy transition, such as copper, nickel, and zinc. This not only accelerates the transition to a net-zero future by reducing emissions in the steel industry but also promises broader applications at a lower cost.