Alexandra Devlin, Jannik Kossen
The steel sector currently accounts for 7% of global energy-related CO2 emissions and requires deep reform to disconnect from fossil fuels. This study investigates the market competitiveness of green hydrogen-based direct reduction of iron ore followed by electric arc furnace steelmaking. By analyzing over 300 locations using optimization and machine learning techniques, we identify regions near the tropics of Capricorn and Cancer as optimal for renewables-based steel production due to their superior solar potential, supplementary onshore wind, high-quality iron ore, and low steelworker wages. If coking coal prices remain high, fossil-free steel could achieve competitiveness in favorable locations by 2030, improving further by 2050. The large-scale implementation of this method necessitates consideration of the availability of suitable iron ore and resources like land and water, along with technical challenges related to direct reduction and future supply chain configurations. With current global steel production around 1.95 billion tonnes, projected demand is expected to rise to 2.19 billion by 2050. Effective measures for recycling and reducing primary steel demand could mitigate emissions, yet economic growth and population increases pose ongoing challenges to sustainable practices.
@article{36f2ec23-3b5e-42b3-9e5e-435595beb26d,
title={Global green hydrogen-based steel opportunities surrounding high quality renewable energy and iron ore deposits},
author={Alexandra Devlin and Jannik Kossen},
year={2023},
language={en}
}TY - JOUR TI - Global green hydrogen-based steel opportunities surrounding high quality renewable energy and iron ore deposits AU - Alexandra Devlin AU - Jannik Kossen PY - 2023 LA - en ER -
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