[ TECHNOLOGY ] intensive , it is crucial to implement extensive measures to make the industry more environmentally sustainable . However , given the complexity of steel production processes , the long value chain , and the wide range of product outputs , there is no simple , ready-made solution to achieving carbon neutrality in the steel industry .
Traditionally , steel manufacturing follows two main routes : the BF-BOF ( blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace ) route and the DRI- EAF ( direct reduced ironelectric arc furnace ) route . Integrated steel producers using the BF-BOF method rely on coal as a reducing agent to convert iron ore into steel , while those using the EAF method manufacture steel primarily from steel scrap or direct reduced iron ( DRI ). Approximately 70 % of global steel is produced via the coaldependent BF-BOF route , and where natural gas is scarce , coal is also used in the DRI- EAF route .
As coal is the primary reducing agent in both conventional production routes — and a major source of emissions — the steel industry must now explore pathways to decarbonize steel production or limit its carbon emissions , both for environmental and economic reasons .
Figure 1 : Low carbon primary steel production routes .
Pathways to sustainable steel production
Several technological approaches have been identified to develop low-carbon primary steel production , as illustrated in Figure 1 .
Among the key factors determining the suitability of a decarbonization solution for a specific plant are size , age , type , and geographic location . One promising option is carbon capture and storage ( CCS ), which can be applied to blast furnaces and has the potential to reduce emissions by 65-80 %. CCS also offers opportunities to create valuable products for other industries . For instance , the captured carbon can be used as a feedstock to produce green methanol for the chemical industry . However , CCS technology is still in its early stages , and solutions for capturing carbon in blast furnaces are currently in the pilot or conceptual phase .
In the DRI-EAF steelmaking process , using green hydrogen ( H2 ) as a reducing agent in DRI plants , combined with scrap in electric arc furnaces , is considered one of the most promising decarbonization pathways . The DRI-EAF route powered by natural gas is already operational in regions with abundant natural gas supplies , reducing carbon emissions , though
Green Steel World | Issue 15 | November 2024 29