Steel sector needs to decarbonise
Hydrogen not only option for abating steel
Alternatives including CCS and biochar may offer steelmakers cheaper decarbonisation options, analyst Michael Liebreich says
Steelmakers are increasingly turning to hydrogen as a potential way to decarbonise, but it is often the most expensive option and should be weighed against at least four other viable ways to reduce emissions, says Michael Liebreich, CEO of Liebreich Associates. Multiple steelmakers are exploring the use of low-carbon hydrogen as a replacement for coking coal in the reduction of iron ore. Green steel and iron production could account for 40pc of total industrial hydrogen demand by 2050, oil major BP says in its latest Energy Outlook report. But the steel industry should also consider the use of CCS, carbon offsets, direct electric reduction and “biochar”—coking coal from biological sources—Li
Also in this section
11 March 2025
A reassessment of clean hydrogen’s growth trajectory is underway, but the energy vector’s long-term potential to decarbonise remains intact
10 March 2025
Collaboration has become crucial to success as projects turn out to be more complex and expensive than previously thought, industry figures tell Dubai conference
8 March 2025
Honouring the trailblazing women shaping the future of hydrogen
5 March 2025
E-fuels remain too expensive for many buyers, but emerging policies in the maritime sector could boost their prospects in that key market
