Under the concept envisioned by St. Louis-based ThREE Consulting, the project would pair nuclear power and high-temperature electrolysis to produce affordable hydrogen, currently a major obstacle in the steel industry’s decarbonization efforts. 

The hydrogen would fuel reduction of +70% Fe₃O₄ magnetite from the idled Pea Ridge iron ore mine in Missouri. The mine is under the ownership Jim Kennedy, president of ThREE Consulting. 

 “ThREE Consulting is ideally situated to lead this project because of the unique geo-chemistry of the iron deposit along with all of the other physical assets already under our control,” said Kennedy. 

“Reopening the former Pea Ridge Iron Ore mine with green technology will be an economic and environmental win for the region and will demonstrate that the US can lead in advanced green industrial technologies.”

ThREE is working with Jim Kutsch, a nuclear consultant and executive director of the Thorium Energy Alliance. Kutsch detailed the concept during a technical presentation at AISTech.  

Kennedy said the group has applied to the US Energy Department to fund a feasibility study that demonstrates project’s economic benefits.