JOURNAL: Prospective life cycle assessment suggests direct reduced iron is the most sustainable pathway to net-zero steelmaking
Summary
Authors:
Arezoo Azimi
Mijndert van der Spek
Heriot-Watt University
Prospective life cycle assessment suggests direct reduced iron is the most sustainable pathway to net-zero steelmaking
Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
February 2025
This paper looks at how the steel industry, a major source of climate emissions, can reach net-zero CO2 emissions. Using detailed life cycle assessments, the researchers compared different production methods in the UK, looking not just at carbon emissions but wider environmental impacts too. They found that, right now, making steel using natural gas-based direct reduced iron with an electric arc furnace is the best option, mainly because the UK’s electricity grid is still too carbon-intensive to make hydrogen-based production competitive. As the grid gets cleaner towards 2050, the best choice between natural gas and hydrogen will depend more on the region. Overall, direct reduced iron methods also cause far less damage to ecosystems than traditional blast furnace routes.