Technological pathways for cost-effective steel decarbonization

Area of Science:

• Industrial decarbonization
• Materials science
• Environmental engineering

Background:

• The iron and steel sector is crucial for net-zero goals but difficult to decarbonize.
• Existing roadmaps lack plant-specific guidance due to heterogeneity and economic factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a model for identifying the least-cost decarbonization technology pathway for individual steel plants globally.
• To align plant-level strategies with national carbon-neutrality targets.

Main Methods:

• Integration of global plant-level datasets.
• Forecasting of technology costs.
• Development of a plant-specific least-cost pathway model.

Main Results:

• Short-term (pre-2030): Energy efficiency and scrap reuse are cheapest, reducing CO2 emissions significantly.
• Long-term (post-2030): Smelt reduction with carbon capture becomes viable, especially in China, Japan, Korea, and Europe.
• Post-2040: Green hydrogen-based steelmaking shows potential for further CO2 abatement in Europe.

Conclusions:

• Plant-specific pathways reconcile economic interests with climate objectives.
• Actionable strategies are provided to support global net-zero targets in the steel sector.