AIST Decarbonization Subcommittee Webinar: Hydrogen Part 2 – H₂ Production, Applications & Challenges

About the Program

This webinar will explore how hydrogen can transform steel — from production to ancillary systems. Learn the pros and cons of electrolysis, small modular reactors with carbon capture, and methane pyrolysis, with a spotlight on solid carbon recovery along with challenges in integrating hydrogen into ancillary systems and offers strategies for effective adoption. This session sets the stage for hydrogen-based direct reduced iron.

Registration Fees

US$0 for AIST members, U$50 for non-members. 

Moderators

David Marshall, Founder, Performance Improvement Inc.
David Marshall holds an electrical engineering degree from Teesside University and an M.B.A. from Ivey Business School. After leading Danieli Corus North America as chief operating officer, he founded Performance Improvement Inc., specializing in reliability and process solutions for blast furnaces, energy recovery, and power generation. A lifetime AIST member, David Marshall was the founding chair of the Decarbonization Subcommittee and continues to advance sustainability initiatives as chair emeritus. Today, he focuses on process reliability and consulting to support a lower-carbon future for the metals industry.

Michael Grant, Independent Consultant
Michael Grant is an independent consultant with nearly 40 years of experience in electric arc furnace and ironmaking technologies. He advises steelmakers globally on process optimization and decarbonization, building on his work with initiatives like ULCOS and Top Gas Recycling Blast Furnace technology.

Presentation 1: 
H2 Production & Applications, Ian Sutherland, Founder, SystemZero Consulting

Presentation Abstract:
Hydrogen is emerging as a transformative force in the decarbonization of iron- and steelmaking. Through real-world project examples and clear explanations of hydrogen direct reduced iron, furnace retrofits, and evolving hydrogen production technologies — including electrolysis- and methane pyrolysis–based pathways — the session highlights the technological breakthroughs and economic shifts now reshaping the sector.

Presenter Bio: 
Ian Sutherland is the founder of SystemZero Consulting, guiding organizations through industrial decarbonization and hydrogen integration. He turns net-zero strategies into actionable results through systems-level thinking and rigorous economic modeling.

Presentation 2: 
Impacts on Ancillary Equipment of Using Hydrogen in Iron- and Steelmaking, Megan Landsborough, Process Engineer, Hatch

Abstract: 
Hydrogen is transforming iron- and steelmaking, but its successful adoption depends on how well supporting plant systems adapt. This session examines the broader impacts of hydrogen on ancillary equipment, highlighting key engineering challenges that influence reliable implementation.

Presenter Bio: 
Megan Landsborough is a process engineer at Hatch specializing in hydrogen systems and industrial decarbonization. She supports large-scale hydrogen projects that enable sustainable energy and emissions reduction.