Two technologies – hydrogen use and carbon capture – have been adopted by European steelmakers to create what is being called ‘green steel’.
Waste gas from blast furnaces that are used to make steel emit CO2, which is harmful to the environment. Hydrogen, however, is a major decarbonisation tool. ArcelorMittal Europe has developed blast furnaces that use hydrogen to reduce the amount of coal required for the furnaces to reduce CO2 emissions.
The hydrogen used by the company is not fully green, but it is developing ways of using electrolysis to produce green hydrogen, which is powered by renewable energy. Carbon capture technology is also being used to prevent the CO2 being emitted into the air.
The CO2 emissions during the manufacturing process have been measured and verified to be considerably less compared to steel made by the steelmaker in 2018. By 2030, the company aims to have reduced its carbon emissions by 30%, and plans to be carbon neutral by 2050.
The president of the company, Aditya Mittal, said:
“We are pleased to be able to offer our first green tonnes this year and look forward to being able to provide customers with larger volumes of this steel.”
Steel is used extensively in many industries, including construction, the automobile industry and manufacturing. In the warehouse, storage trolleys, strong garment rails, vertical steel racks and other equipment are mainly made from tubular steel. As more steel is produced using carbon-reducing technologies, manufacturers of equipment can use green steel to reduce their carbon footprint.
ArcelorMittal plans to offer green steel before the end of 2020.
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