German investment can dramatically reshape steel-making industry
WORLD 29 September 2022 - 08:30
German steel giant Thyssenkrupp is investing $1.9 billion in a hydrogen-powered direct-reduction system that can create high-quality steel without needing the rare, high-grade iron ore required by most green steel processes. This could open the floodgates.
Every ton of conventionally produced steel puts nearly two tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and humankind uses so much of the stuff that steel production contributes somewhere between 7 to 8% of global carbon emissions every year, per New Atlas. Cleaning up this massive emissions disaster over the next quarter century is imperative, and a daunting challenge.
But the technology to make green steel is well understood and already in use. You stop using fossil-fired blast furnaces to release the oxygen from iron ore, and you stop using baked coal, or coke, as a reductant to add the critical small percentage of carbon to your iron. Instead, you use green hydrogen in a direct reduction process, both as your reductant and to power an electric arc furnace to supply the heat. Instead of tons of carbon dioxide, this process emits water.
Sweden's H2 Green Steel has the jump on the green steel market for the time being. Its $3 billion facilities are expected to pump out some 5 million tons of high-quality zero-emissions steel annually by 2030. But the mainstream is making moves to catch up; ArcelorMittal, the world's second-largest steel producer, will be producing 1.6 million tons of green steel a year by 2025 at a new zero-carbon plant in Spain.
Now Germany's Thyssenkrupp has committed the funds to replace one of the giant blast furnaces at its Duisburg site with a direct-reduction system, which will begin producing around 2.5 million tons of "low-CO2" steel from 2026.
While it's not totally green – Thyssenkrupp plans to feed the iron produced in the direct-reduction facility into melting units, and send the hot iron back through its existing plant structure – this design could still be of enormous significance to the wider steel industry, because it can reportedly produce high-quality steel using lower-grade iron than other direct reduction processes, as Renew Economy points out.
That's a big deal, and not just because the super-high-quality (>67% Fe) iron ore required by most electric arc furnaces is more expensive than lower-grade ore, pushing up the price. More importantly, only some 4% of today's global iron ore supply meets this mark, so the raw materials don't exist to decarbonize the entire steelmaking sector.
Thyssenkrupp's process allows it to use blast-furnace-grade iron, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, removing any chance of a materials bottleneck and clearing the path for a much quicker shift to green – or at least low-emissions – steelmaking.
Caliber.Az
1
|
Poland suspends military drills following fifth soldier's death
27 March 2024 - 13:41
|
2
|
Ukraine, West unleash hybrid operation against Azerbaijan Baku disappointed with Kyiv’s actions
25 March 2024 - 15:25
|
3
|
Syrian scenario for Armenia Russian, Israeli experts’ views for Caliber.Az
26 March 2024 - 17:27
|
4
|
Serbian president warns of difficult days ahead
27 March 2024 - 11:04
|
5
|
Understanding the complexities of Russian-Turkish relations Putin's delayed visit to Türkiye
25 March 2024 - 14:26
|
Armenia’s exports to Russia raise concerns over sanctions circumvention
28 March 2024 - 23:00
Lavrov blames Armenian leadership for deliberately undermining relations with Moscow
28 March 2024 - 21:09
Turkish, Azerbaijani filmmakers unite for joint historical film Golden Train
28 March 2024 - 20:57
Japan looks to revive commercial aircraft development dreams
28 March 2024 - 20:45
CoE committee plans working visit to Armenia to assess regional dynamics
28 March 2024 - 20:41
Azerbaijan, OIC Youth Forum ink deal for Shusha 2024 program
28 March 2024 - 20:37
Ukraine drone strike hits Russian infrastructure - Belgorod governor
28 March 2024 - 20:29
EU mission in Armenia transitioning to NATO oversight
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov28 March 2024 - 20:20
US buys 2.8 mln barrels of oil for strategic reserve
28 March 2024 - 20:14
Int’l program OIC Youth capital Shusha-2024 to host array of events - minister
28 March 2024 - 19:59
Iran oil & gas expo strategic nexus for domestic & global energy players
28 March 2024 - 19:59
Who is Mohammad Mustafa, Palestinian Prime Minister-designate?
28 March 2024 - 19:45
Shusha holds paramount significance for all Turkic states
OIC Youth Forum president28 March 2024 - 19:35
More than 20% of global oil refining capacity at risk, analysis finds
28 March 2024 - 19:29
Pakistan urges US for Iran gas pipeline waiver, calls project 'need of the hour'
28 March 2024 - 19:14
NYT: Russian group spread disinformation about Princess of Wales
28 March 2024 - 19:00
UN picks Saudi Arabia to lead women’s rights forum despite "abysmal" record
28 March 2024 - 18:49
Moroccan journalist advocates for truth in reporting on Azerbaijan
28 March 2024 - 18:36
Pundit warns of new crisis in Armenian-Russian relations
28 March 2024 - 18:21
The American Prospect: One more way Supreme Court legalizes corruption
Disgraced Bob Menendez pretending to “run” for re-election28 March 2024 - 18:07
Russian parliament assesses Türkiye's position on Moscow terrorist attack
28 March 2024 - 17:53
Mortality rate exceeds birth rate in Georgia
28 March 2024 - 17:40
President Erdogan alleges global opposition to Türkiye's actions
VIDEO28 March 2024 - 17:26
Greece's military shift sparks controversy as air force fleet shrinks
28 March 2024 - 17:13
The New York Times: Why Russia’s vast security services fell short on deadly attack
28 March 2024 - 17:00
Armenia's Republican Party advocates Western solutions for national challenges
28 March 2024 - 16:49
Turkiye neutralizes over 600 “terrorists” since January
28 March 2024 - 16:40
Another protest against French colonialism held in New Caledonia
Azerbaijani flag raised28 March 2024 - 16:25
Azerbaijan's scepticism, Russia's concerns, & France's role in the South Caucasus
Geopolitical chess28 March 2024 - 16:10
Armenia lured by Brussels' bait
Yerevan’s pivot from Moscow28 March 2024 - 15:58
What does the Moscow terror attack mean for Russia?
The enemy is much closer28 March 2024 - 15:43
The Hub: COP29 to nudge global climate policy in a more pragmatic position
28 March 2024 - 15:29
Armenia’s ruling party affirms unity amidst allegations of “government in exile”
28 March 2024 - 15:14
Armenian opposition media alleges PM Pashinyan plot to remove Russian base
28 March 2024 - 15:00
PKK supporters spark chaos at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris
VIDEO28 March 2024 - 14:49
Media: Terrorists in Moscow attack drugged with psychotropic substances
28 March 2024 - 14:40
Azerbaijani Ombudswoman meets with Armenian residents in Khankendi
28 March 2024 - 14:31
Georgian Business Association names main problem for business in Georgia
28 March 2024 - 14:22
S Korea, US, Japan discuss security cooperation against N Korea threats
28 March 2024 - 14:10
Armenian prime minister's office denounces government in exile
28 March 2024 - 14:00