Process of Transformation to Net Zero Steelmaking: Decarbonisation Scenarios Based on the Analysis of the Polish Steel Industry

Process of Transformation to Net Zero Steelmaking: Decarbonisation Scenarios Based on the Analysis of the Polish Steel Industry

The European steel industry is experiencing new challenges related to the market situation and climate policy. Experience from the period of pandemic restrictions and the effects of Russia’s armed invasion of Ukraine has given many countries a basis for including steel along with raw materials (coke...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energies (Basel) Vol. 16; no. 8; p. 3384
Main Authors: Gajdzik, Bożena, Wolniak, Radosław, Grebski, Wies
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-04-2023
Subjects:
Air quality management
Alternative energy sources
Basic converters
Blast furnace practice
Carbon dioxide
Climate policy
decarbonisation
Decarbonization
Economic conditions
Emissions
Energy consumption
Energy policy
Environmental aspects
Green hydrogen
Hydrogen plasma
Hydrogen reduction
Iron ores
net zero steelmaking
New technology
Poland
Production processes
Raw materials
Renewable energy sources
scenarios
Ships
Steel industry
Washing machines
Poland
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Summary:The European steel industry is experiencing new challenges related to the market situation and climate policy. Experience from the period of pandemic restrictions and the effects of Russia’s armed invasion of Ukraine has given many countries a basis for including steel along with raw materials (coke, iron ore, electricity) in economic security products (CRMA). Steel is needed for economic infrastructure and construction development as well as a material for other industries (without steel, factories will not produce cars, machinery, ships, washing machines, etc.). In 2022, steelmakers faced a deepening energy crisis and economic slowdown. The market situation prompted steelmakers to impose restrictions on production volumes (worldwide production fell by 4% compared to the previous year). Despite the difficult economic situation of the steel industry (production in EU countries fell by 11% in 2022 compared to the previous year), the EU is strengthening its industrial decarbonisation policy (“Fit for 55”). The decarbonisation of steel production is set to accelerate by 2050. To sharply reduce carbon emissions, steel mills need new steelmaking technologies. The largest global, steelmakers are already investing in new technologies that will use green hydrogen (produced from renewable energy sources). Reducing iron ore with hydrogen plasma will drastically reduce CO2 emissions (steel production using hydrogen could emit up to 95% less CO2 than the current BF + BOF blast furnace + basic oxygen furnace integrated method). Investments in new technologies must be tailored to the steel industry. A net zero strategy (deep decarbonisation goal) may have different scenarios in different EU countries. The purpose of this paper was to introduce the conditions for investing in low-carbon steelmaking technologies in the Polish steel market and to develop (based on expert opinion) scenarios for the decarbonisation of the Polish steel industry.
ISSN:1996-1073
1996-1073
DOI:10.3390/en16083384