Power-to-Steel: Reducing CO 2 through the Integration of Renewable Energy and Hydrogen into the German Steel Industry

Alexander Otto, Martin Robinius, Thomas Grube, Sebastian Schiebahn, Aaron Praktiknjo and Detlef Stolten
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Alexander Otto: JARA-ENERGY, 52425 Jülich, Germany
Martin Robinius: JARA-ENERGY, 52425 Jülich, Germany
Thomas Grube: JARA-ENERGY, 52425 Jülich, Germany
Sebastian Schiebahn: JARA-ENERGY, 52425 Jülich, Germany
Detlef Stolten: JARA-ENERGY, 52425 Jülich, Germany

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 4, 1-21

Abstract: This paper analyses some possible means by which renewable power could be integrated into the steel manufacturing process, with techniques such as blast furnace gas recirculation (BF-GR), furnaces that utilize carbon capture, a higher share of electrical arc furnaces (EAFs) and the use of direct reduced iron with hydrogen as reduction agent (H-DR). It is demonstrated that these processes could lead to less dependence on—and ultimately complete independence from—coal. This opens the possibility of providing the steel industry with power and heat by coupling to renewable power generation (sector coupling). In this context, it is shown using the example of Germany that with these technologies, reductions of 47–95% of CO 2 emissions against 1990 levels and 27–95% of primary energy demand against 2008 can be achieved through the integration of 12–274 TWh of renewable electrical power into the steel industry. Thereby, a substantial contribution to reducing CO 2 emissions and fuel demand could be made (although it would fall short of realizing the German government’s target of a 50% reduction in power consumption by 2050).

Keywords: power-to-steel; CO 2 reduction in steel industry; sector coupling; renewable energy for steelmaking; alternative steelmaking processes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (35)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:4:p:451-:d:94740

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