Global green hydrogen-based steel opportunities surrounding high quality renewable energy and iron ore deposits.

ABSTRACT: The steel sector currently accounts for 7% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions and requires deep reform to disconnect from fossil fuels. Here, we investigate the market competitiveness of one of the widely considered decarbonisation routes for primary steel production: green hydrogen-based direct reduction of iron ore followed by electric arc furnace steelmaking. Through analysing over 300 locations by combined use of optimisation and machine learning, we show that competitive renewables-based steel production is located nearby the tropic of Capricorn and Cancer, characterised by superior solar with supplementary onshore wind, in addition to high-quality iron ore and low steelworker wages. If coking coal prices remain high, fossil-free steel could attain competitiveness in fa

SUBMITTER: Devlin A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10160127 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature