Global Iron Transition Outlook
Hydrogen Iron Pathways Explorer
An interactive scenario viewer for hydrogen iron pathways, allowing users to compare reduction routes, trade configurations and resource requirements across regions and time horizons.
The Pathways Explorer is designed to bring scenario results for hydrogen-based iron and steel production into a single, comparable interface. Users will be able to select a pathway, region and year, adjust key assumptions, and read off the implied energy, hydrogen, land, water and cost outcomes.
Coverage
Dimensions the explorer will cover
Each scenario draws together reduction routes, trade configurations and the resource and infrastructure requirements that shape feasibility and cost.
H₂-DRI pathways
Direct reduction of iron ore using hydrogen as the reductant, with subsequent melting in electric arc furnaces.
DRI + electric smelting pathways
Combined direct reduction and electric smelting routes that broaden the range of usable iron ore grades.
Domestic steelmaking vs DRI/HBI trade
Trade-offs between producing steel domestically and importing reduced iron in the form of DRI or hot-briquetted iron.
Renewable energy requirements
Installed renewable capacity implied by each pathway, including solar, wind and supporting resources.
Hydrogen demand
Volumes of low-emissions hydrogen required to reduce iron ore across regions and time horizons.
Electricity demand
Electricity needed for electrolysis, electric smelting and downstream steelmaking processes.
Land requirements
Land footprint associated with renewable generation and hydrogen production for each pathway.
Water requirements
Freshwater needs for electrolysis and processing, an important constraint in many candidate regions.
Infrastructure bottlenecks
Constraints in ports, pipelines, transmission and storage that may limit the pace of deployment.
Cost sensitivity analysis
How levelised costs respond to hydrogen prices, carbon prices and other key assumptions.
Interactive preview
Scenario explorer
The layout below previews the explorer interface. Controls and charts are non-functional mock-ups using placeholder datasets, illustrating how validated model outputs will be presented.
Energy and hydrogen demand
Mock dataHydrogen demand
52 Mt/yr
Electricity demand
2 900 TWh
Renewable capacity
740 GW
Water use
470 Mm³
Illustrative values for layout only. Replace with validated Task 52 model outputs.
Levelised cost sensitivity
Mock dataLCOS (central)
$640/t
Low H₂ cost
$520/t
High H₂ cost
$790/t
Carbon price
$100/t
Illustrative values for layout only. Replace with validated Task 52 model outputs.
Structure ahead of data
The first version uses placeholder datasets and mock charts. The structure is ready for real model outputs later. All figures, metrics and charts shown here are illustrative and should not be cited until they have been validated by the Task 52 team.
Connect your model outputs
Modelling teams and data partners are invited to contribute validated scenario results to populate the Pathways Explorer ahead of public release.