July 31-Aug. 2, 2023 — G20 tackles concern about the climate impact of the steel industry with a plan that includes a systematic reduction in emissions by at least two thirds via recycling — where possible (based on a survey of existing steel plants).
The world is struggling to simultaneously boost global economic output, bring billions of people into the middle classes as well as cut emissions. The steel industry is a difficult industry to make green and clean.
G20 (led by India currently; it holds the rotating presidency): “We recognize that steel sector is fundamental for comprehensive economic development, especially in developing countries yet its environmental footprint has been and continues to be of concern. We note that steel can be recycled without loss of properties, which makes it useful to contribute to a more circular economy.
“Therefore, we recognize the need, and we will take appropriate actions taking into account national circumstances, to enable product design and material efficiency improvements including in cooperation with the private sector and a more systematic recycling of steel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from this sector and to reduce environmental impacts. In this regard, we thank the Presidency for its efforts in developing relevant documents in this area.”
Recycling is just one of 6 Rs
See this post from Daniel Rossetto on how the EU carbon border measure may change the nature of the global trade in steel.
Opportunities for efficiency improvements
G20 (unedited): The energy and carbon intensity of steel production depends on the production route. The integrated route typically emits between 1.6 and 3.8 tCO2/t of steel produced, whereas the scrap-based EAF pathway emits 0.2-2.7 tCO2/t of steel (41). The mix of inputs also influences the carbon intensity.
[Cut emissions by at least two thirds]
In a sample of 238 steel plants, those with near-zero scrap use had emissions intensity between 1.6 and 3.5 tCO2/t of crude steel, whereas those with an ~96% scrap share emitted between 0.2 and 0.5 tCO2/t of crude steel (42).
The variation in emissions intensity range is partly due to the use of coal or natural gas as a reducing agent and heat source, but it is also influenced by differences in the efficiency of the processes.
Measured (or estimated) carbon intensities vary considerably across regions and production sites, indicating that there remains potential for process efficiency improvements by converging to best practices.
Several measures can contribute to making iron and steel production more efficient (Figure 14), including retrofit, process control, waste utilisation, process intensification, heat recovery and new technology measures (43).
See climate doc and below that steel doc.
India steel strength: Lakshmi Niwas Mittal is an Indian steel magnate. He’s exec chairman of ArcelorMittal.
Unedited from last month:
ArcelorMittal and John Cockerill announce plans to develop world’s first industrial scale low temperature, iron electrolysis plant
Volteron™ plant targeted to start-up in 2027
ArcelorMittal, [the world’s second biggest steel company], and John Cockerill, a group leading the development of steel processing facilities and electrolysers, today announce plans to construct the world’s first industrial-scale low temperature, iron electrolysis plant.
The Volteron™ plant, which in a first phase will produce between 40,000 and 80,000 tonnes a year of iron plates, is targeted to start production in 2027.
Once the technology has been proven at this scale, the intention is to increase the plant’s annual capacity to between 300,000 and 1 million tonnes.ArcelorMittal and John Cockerill have been working together on an innovative electrochemical process to transform iron oxide into iron plates for the last few years. The successfully completed project, formerly known as SIDERWIN, has to date been publicly funded through the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme. In addition to ArcelorMittal and John Cockerill, project partners have included EDF, Tecnalia, Quantis, University of Aveiro, National Technical University of Athens, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Dynergie, Recoy, CFD Numerics and Mytilineos. This next phase of the project will be carried forward as an exclusive partnership between ArcelorMittal and John Cockerill.Volteron™ is a carbon free, cold direct electrolysis process that extracts iron from iron ore using electricity. On a pilot scale plant, the process has proved to be highly efficient using standard iron ore. The iron plates created during the electrolysis process are then processed into steel in an electric arc furnace.Commenting, Brad Davey, EVP and head of corporate business optimisation, ArcelorMittal, said:“This is a tremendously exciting development and opportunity for our company. We have been working on direct electrolysis technology for some time given the potential it holds to decarbonise steelmaking. Having now proven our energy efficient, low temperature process at a pilot level, the natural next step for us is to progress to an industrial plant. We intend to achieve this target within four years and be the first in the world to produce steel at scale via low temperature electrolysis.“It is a significant moment for ArcelorMittal, and for the global steel industry. Direct electrolysis is a disruptive, breakthrough technology. Although the technology needs to mature, it could revolutionise how steel is made, removing carbon entirely from steelmaking. We intend to be pioneers in that process.”Sébastien Roussel, President of John Cockerill Industry, added:“As a bicentennial technology leader in steelmaking engineering and current world leader for electrolysis dedicated to hydrogen production, we are extremely proud to develop together with ArcelorMittal a technology that can be a significant contribution to tackling global warming.
We are convinced that Volteron™ is the most energy efficient process to produce steel without emitting CO2 and that it will soon become a real game changer for the steelmaking industry.
”Direct electrolysis is one of three decarbonisation technology pathways ArcelorMittal is working on to make net zero steelmaking a reality. The other two are Smart Carbon and Innovative-DRI. The Smart Carbon pathway involves modifying the blast furnace steelmaking route and harnessing clean energy sources including bioenergy and carbon capture and storage, while the Innovative-DRI route involves using hydrogen as a replacement for fossil fuels to make direct reduced iron, a metallic feedstock for steelmaking in an electric arc furnace.To learn more about ArcelorMittal’s climate action targets, ambitions and projects visit https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/climate-action.To learn more about John Cockerill’s climate action technologies, watch https://youtu.be/LPqrgK7FW9I.[Picture above shows our EVP, corporate business optimisation, Brad Davey (RHS) and John Cockerill’s CEO François Michel (LHS) signing an iron plate made via our Volteron direct electrolysis process.]
About John CockerillDriven since 1817 by its founder’s entrepreneurial spirit and thirst for innovation, John Cockerill develops large-scale technological solutions to meet the needs of its time: facilitating access to fossil free energies, enabling responsible industrial production, preserving natural resources, contributing to greener mobility and enhancing security. Today the Group is a key player in the energy transition and the circular economy offering companies, states and local authorities services and associated equipment for the energy, defense, industry, environment, transport and infrastructure sectors. With over 6,500 employees, John Cockerill achieved in 2022 a turnover of €1.1 billion in 23 countries, on 5 continents.For more information about John Cockerill please visit: www.johncockerill.com#
(Adds link to Rossetto analysis, earlier added Arcelor release)
