Sustainability | ~ 3 min read
A greener future for steel
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Steel is the backbone of modern economies, used in everything from infrastructure to vehicles. However, it is also one of the most carbon-intensive industries. Innovative solutions exist, but challenges range from reliance on metallurgical coal to regional policy gaps.
Reliance on coal is the steel sector’s primary decarbonisation challenge, and transitioning to low- and zero-carbon technologies is essential for reducing these emissions.1 Some areas of focus include:
- The use of recycled scrap. Electric arc furnaces (EAF) are smaller and more efficient than blast furnaces, and primarily use recycled scrap. However, limited scrap availability cannot meet industrial demand for high-quality steel.
- Green hydrogen. Direct reduced iron (DRI) could cut emissions by 90% using green hydrogen but is more costly than using natural gas.
- Gas-based DRI and biomass. DRI made using natural gas or biomass-derived syngas can significantly reduce emissions but may still involve fossil fuels.
- Blast furnace optimisation and carbon capture. These have limited impact on net emissions.
Regional disparities compound the issue. The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is driving innovation in Europe, but 90% of steel production in key regions such as China and India still uses coal-fired blast furnaces.
Green steel solutions vary by their decarbonisation potential, and many are not yet commercially deployed at scale.2
How can engagement drive change?
Engaging with companies in high-emitting sectors such as steel is one way to advance climate action. These engagements can focus on the decarbonisation strategies themselves, but also governance elements such as capital commitments, disclosures and progress tracking. Addressing systemic challenges – like supply chain gaps – requires broader alignment between policymakers, industries and investors.
What does the future of the steel industry look like?
Pilot schemes for DRI and EAF, large-scale renewable energy projects, and green hydrogen joint ventures are helping advance steel’s decarbonisation. The sector’s decarbonisation is a critical contribution to net zero ambitions. We are committed to bridging the gap between ambition and implementation by promoting transparency, robust climate policies and technological advancements in the sector.
1 The sector accounts for 6-8% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which are more than the total emissions from all the world’s cars and vans, according to Carbon Brief.
2 Forging pathways: insights for the green steel transformation, a report by the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility