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https://theconversation.com/red-dirt-yellow-sun-green-steel-how-australia-could-benefit-from-a-global-shift-to-emissions-free-steel-179286>
"Australia is the world’s number one exporter of both iron ore and
metallurgical coal, the key ingredients of traditional steel making. Together,
these materials make up a very large part of Australia’s export income.
But as the world moves towards net-zero emissions by 2050, the conventional way
of making steel, using coal to power a blast furnace, will come under question.
Iron and steel production, in total, account for close to 7% of the world’s
greenhouse gas emissions. This is incompatible with a net-zero world economy,
where residual emissions would need to be compensated through carbon dioxide
uptake from the atmosphere. The mature technology of coal-fired blast furnaces
currently dominates the steel industry, generating 90% of its emissions.
For years, decarbonising steel production has been seen as particularly
challenging. But now, alternatives to the centuries-old practice of using coal
to produce iron and steel are emerging. Researchers have been working on a
number of new pathways to make steel with little or no emissions. The most
promising process relying on the use of hydrogen.
Our new research shows the steel industry can develop and implement green steel
production processes to contribute to the great decarbonisation effort needed.
For Australia, this presents an enormous new opportunity to future-proof and
expand our steel industry as the world acts on climate change."
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
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mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
