Abstract
The steel industry and its related supply chain emit more greenhouse gases (GHG) than any other metal produced. Accounting for 7-9% of global GHG emissions, steel production is deemed a ‘hard-to-abate’ industry due its reliance on carbon to reduce iron ore to iron. Steel demand will grow significantly due to population growth, demands to build renewable energy systems, and a need for more resilient infrastructure. The steel industry challenge is to reduce GHG emissions while increasing output by as much as a 30% over the next 30 years. A credible path to net zero GHG emissions is essential for access to the capital needed to convert current facilities to new green steel plants.
The iron ore and steel industries are exploring many technologies to develop pathways to net zero including advanced iron ore upgrading, increased steel scrap usage; process electrification; hydrogen and biomass reduction of iron ore; and carbon capture, utilization, and storage. Starting from current steel industry GHG emission profiles, technology routes that enable deep GHG reductions will be described, including an update on technology readiness levels and commercialization timeframes. Pathways to net zero by 2050 are possible; likely routes and key enabling technologies for the incumbent blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) route; the direct reduction ironmaking - electric arc furnace (DRI-EAF) route; and the scrap melting EAF steel producers will be presented.