Global Steel Industry Tackles “Decarb” Challenge

As advanced as steelmaking has become, producing steel is still an inherently carbon- and energy-intensive process. Steel mills in the United States and the rest of the world find themselves in the crosshairs of the many environmental and political groups now calling for dramatic steps to reduce harmful air emissions and slow the pace of climate change. With their own best interests in mind, as well as those of the planet, steel companies are spending millions to research and develop new technologies with the lofty goal of someday “decarbonizing” steel, and perhaps gaining a marketing advantage along the way.

Steelmakers around the world produced nearly 1.9 billion metric tons in 2019 in a process that transforms iron ore and coking coal or recycled scrap into new metal by applying enormous amounts of heat. The process emits vast volumes of carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas that is warming the planet and changing its climate. The World Steel Association estimates 1.82 metric tons of CO2 were emitted for every ton of steel produced in 2018. The steel industry generates 7-9 percent of all direct emissions from the global use of fossil fuel.