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Technologies are being deployed for a transition in Steel is mainly produced by two routes:
energy systems starting with generation & use of
renewable energy sources and moving towards hard Iron ore-based steelmaking and
to abate Energy-intensive and Emission-intensive Scrap-based steelmaking.
industries such as Power, Metals (primarily Iron & Steel
and Aluminium), Cement, Refineries. In total, 70% of the world steel is made BF-BOF route,
where iron ore is reduced in Blast Furnace and then
Although aluminium takes a lower position in converted into steel in Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF).
cumulative contribution, primary aluminium Raw materials are mainly iron ore, coal, limestone and
production is very energy-intensive. Emission intensity steel scrap. Electric Arc Furnace produces balance
is around 4.8 tCO /t of aluminium against the global (EAF) wherein scrap steel, or Direct Reduced iron (DR)
2
average of 2.2 tCO /t of crude steel. The energy source is is mainly used as raw materials and electricity as the
2
primarily electricity. Majority of the power consumption energy source. In FY2020, share or crude steel BF-BOF
is from inhouse power generation, primarily based on route was 44%, EAF- 26% and IF (Induction furnace) was
coal (~60%). Work on improvements in CO emissions 30% in India. Global average carbon emissions from
2
is in improved recycling, flexibility to adopt renewable above routes:
power, and development of non-carbon consumables
such as inert anodes.

At around 1.9 billion tons of global steel production per Natural Gas Scrap
year and about 19 gigajoules (GJ) (0.45 tonnes of oil BF-BOF based based
equivalent) of energy required per ton of crude steel, DRI-EAF DRI
the industry emits around 2.6 Gt direct CO emissions CO Emissions (Direct + Indirect )
*
2
annually. 2
Similarly, Steel Industry stood highest as a single sector 2.2 t CO / t cs 1.4 t CO / t cs 0.4 t CO / t cs
2
2
2
in industrial energy consumption and CO emissions in (1 + 1.2) (1 + 0.35) (0.04+0.35)
2
India in 2019.
Consequently, steel players across the globe are
increasingly facing a decarbonisation challenge. Three *Indirect emissions include emissions from the required electricity and
key developments drive this challenge: other energy imports. Coal-based DR kilns emit three times that of direct

Changing customer requirements and growing emissions by gas-based DRI.
demand for carbon-friendly steel products. A
trend that has already been observed in various
industries, including the auto industry. While energy intensity and carbon emissions are closely
linked, the path towards energy transition in iron and
Further tightening of carbon emission regulations steel sector can be divided into three segments:
manifesting in carbon dioxide reduction targets
and rise in carbon dioxide emission prices. Reduce the energy intensity of current processes:
Energy efficiency improvement with waste heat
Growing investor and public interest in utilisation, Process efficiency improvement
sustainability. For example, the Institutional
Investors Group on Climate Change, a global Replace fossil fuels for production:
network with 250-plus investors, has raised Electrification and use of Renewable energy, low
expectations for the steel industry to safeguard its carbon Hydrogen, Biomass utilisation
future in the face of climate change.
Develop new production pathways with low carbon

With substantial projected capacity additions (100 – footprint:
140 MT) by 2030-31 in India and high reliance on coal, Process intensification with hybrid technologies,
green/clean technology is very relevant for iron & steel Improved Scrap recycling and utilisation.
industry even in India.

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