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

Author

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  • Alexandra Devlin

    (University of Oxford)

  • Jannik Kossen

    (University of Oxford)

  • Haulwen Goldie-Jones

    (University of Oxford)

  • Aidong Yang

    (University of Oxford)

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 favourable locations from 2030, further improving towards 2050. Large-scale implementation requires attention to the abundance of suitable iron ore and other resources such as land and water, technical challenges associated with direct reduction, and future supply chain configuration.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexandra Devlin & Jannik Kossen & Haulwen Goldie-Jones & Aidong Yang, 2023. "Global green hydrogen-based steel opportunities surrounding high quality renewable energy and iron ore deposits," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-38123-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38123-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Takuma Watari & André Cabrera Serrenho & Lukas Gast & Jonathan Cullen & Julian Allwood, 2023. "Feasible supply of steel and cement within a carbon budget is likely to fall short of expected global demand," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Philipp C. Verpoort & Lukas Gast & Anke Hofmann & Falko Ueckerdt, 2024. "Impact of global heterogeneity of renewable energy supply on heavy industrial production and green value chains," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 9(4), pages 491-503, April.
    3. Zhang, Huining & Liu, Xueting & Wang, Pufan & Wang, Qiqi & Lu, Liping & Yang, Liang & Jiang, Pingguo & Liang, Yong & Liao, Chunfa, 2024. "Hydrogen-rich carbon recycling complex system establishment and comprehensive evaluation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 355(C).
    4. Peter Klimek & Maximilian Hess & Markus Gerschberger & Stefan Thurner, 2024. "Circular transformation of the European steel industry renders scrap metal a strategic resource," Papers 2406.12098, arXiv.org.
    5. Peter Klimek & Maximilian Hess & Markus Gerschberger & Stefan Thurner, 2024. "Circular Transformation of the European Steel Industry Renders Scrap Metal a Strategic Resource," ASCII Working Papers 003, Supply Chain Intelligence Institute Austria.

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