International Steel Mills
January 2, 2020
Green Steel Movement Faces Technical Hurdles
Written by Tim Triplett
Climate change is moving up the political agenda in countries around the world, putting increasing pressure on industries such as steel to reduce greenhouse gases. Globally, the steel industry is responsible for around 5 percent of total CO2 emissions. Steelmakers are responding with plans for mills that run on solar or wind energy and are spending millions on research into breakthrough technologies such as hydrogen-fueled furnaces and carbon capture and storage. It all sounds very promising, but a nightmare’s worth of R&D stands between the current steelmaking technology and the dream of true “fossil-free” steel, say the experts.
Mills all over the world are making headlines with their ambitious environmental initiatives. Nucor claims its micromill in Sedalia, Mo., will be the first U.S. steel plant to run on wind energy. EVRAZ North America’s mill in Pueblo, Colo., will be powered by an on-site, 240MW solar power plant. SSAB Americas claims it will be the first supplier of “fossil-free steel” in North America, operating its Montpelier, Iowa, minimill solely with renewable energy by 2026.
