Pathways for Low-Carbon Transition of the Steel Industry—A Swedish Case Study

Alla Toktarova, Ida Karlsson, Johan Rootzén, Lisa Göransson, Mikael Odenberger and Filip Johnsson
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Alla Toktarova: Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
Ida Karlsson: Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
Johan Rootzén: Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Lisa Göransson: Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
Mikael Odenberger: Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
Filip Johnsson: Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-18

Abstract: The concept of techno-economic pathways is used to investigate the potential implementation of CO 2 abatement measures over time towards zero-emission steelmaking in Sweden. The following mitigation measures are investigated and combined in three pathways: top gas recycling blast furnace (TGRBF); carbon capture and storage (CCS); substitution of pulverized coal injection (PCI) with biomass; hydrogen direct reduction of iron ore (H-DR); and electric arc furnace (EAF), where fossil fuels are replaced with biomass. The results show that CCS in combination with biomass substitution in the blast furnace and a replacement primary steel production plant with EAF with biomass (Pathway 1) yield CO 2 emission reductions of 83% in 2045 compared to CO 2 emissions with current steel process configurations. Electrification of the primary steel production in terms of H-DR/EAF process (Pathway 2), could result in almost fossil-free steel production, and Sweden could achieve a 10% reduction in total CO 2 emissions. Finally, (Pathway 3) we show that increased production of hot briquetted iron pellets (HBI), could lead to decarbonization of the steel industry outside Sweden, assuming that the exported HBI will be converted via EAF and the receiving country has a decarbonized power sector.

Keywords: iron and steel industry; techno-economic pathways; decarbonization; CO 2 emissions; carbon abatement measures (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: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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