Achieving green steel: How India can bridge the gaps to decarbonise the sector

Source: The post is based on the article “Achieving green steel: How India can bridge the gaps to decarbonise the sector” published in the Down To Earth on 30^th September 2022.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Relevance: About Green Steel

News: At present, the iron and steel sectors are highly energy intensive and big on emissions. So, the iron and steel, cement and chemical industries have started to focus their attention on greening the sector.

What is Green Steel?

It is steel which is manufactured without the use of fossil fuels. This can be done by using low-carbon energy sources such as hydrogen, coal gasification, or electricity.

What are the transitions in the Indian steel sector?

More than 80% of the country’s reserves are in the states of Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and the northern regions of Andhra Pradesh. Western states Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka have made good use of the available non-conventional sources of energy in the region.

How to decarbonise the Iron and Steel sector?

In order to decarbonise the iron and steel sector, the primary emphasis through technological interventions would be on substituting the primary production processes with cleaner alternatives. Such as, 1) Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), 2) Replacing conventional sources of energy with low-carbon hydrogen, and 3) Direct electrification through electrolysis of iron ore.

What steps can be taken to make Green Steel economical?

a) Increasing energy efficiency through the adoption of technologies that are cost-effective, b) Refurbishing old steel plants, c) Funding for energy efficiency measures for electricity-based manufacturing, d) Constructing a suitable infrastructure for recycling steel and utilising steel scrap, e) Generating green standards and similar types of labels for the market growth of green steel, and f) Amending the Perform Achieve Trade scheme to estimate and check the carbon emissions instead of energy consumed.