Plant-by-plant decarbonization strategies for the global steel industry

Ruochong Xu, Dan Tong (), Steven J. Davis, Xinying Qin, Jing Cheng, Qinren Shi, Yang Liu, Cuihong Chen, Liu Yan, Xizhe Yan, Huaxuan Wang, Dongsheng Zheng, Kebin He and Qiang Zhang
Additional contact information
Ruochong Xu: Tsinghua University
Dan Tong: Tsinghua University
Steven J. Davis: University of California, Irvine
Xinying Qin: Tsinghua University
Jing Cheng: Tsinghua University
Qinren Shi: Tsinghua University
Yang Liu: Tsinghua University
Cuihong Chen: Tsinghua University
Liu Yan: Tsinghua University
Xizhe Yan: Tsinghua University
Huaxuan Wang: Tsinghua University
Dongsheng Zheng: Tsinghua University
Kebin He: Tsinghua University
Qiang Zhang: Tsinghua University

Nature Climate Change, 2023, vol. 13, issue 10, 1067-1074

Abstract: Abstract The critical role of the iron and steel industry in decarbonizing global energy systems calls for refined strategies of climate mitigation. Here, based on a newly developed database of individual iron and steel facilities worldwide, we explore the distinct differences in age-to-capacity ratio and emissions intensity of primary steelmaking plants. We customize regional cost-effective decarbonization strategies by targeting a certain proportion of plants. We find that the more effective indicator for targeted decarbonization in developing regions is emissions intensity, while for developed countries it is age-to-capacity ratio. Whichever indicator we use to target plants, the strategy of transformation towards secondary steelmaking is generally more cost-effective than efficiency improvement in most cases, although obvious regional priorities exist. Our results emphasize the region-specific priorities of mitigation indicators and strategies in targeting plants, which help with designing short-term, cost-effective strategies for reducing steel-related CO2 emissions.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-023-01808-z

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