In the relentless pursuit of net-zero emissions, the steel industry faces a monumental challenge: tackling the CO2 emissions from blast furnace gas (BFG), a byproduct of primary steel production. A recent study led by Harish K. Jeswani from the Sustainable Industrial Systems department at The University of Manchester, published in Carbon Capture Science & Technology, sheds light on the environmental impacts of various decarbonisation strategies for BFG.
The research combines process simulation with life cycle assessment to evaluate different scenarios involving carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) and carbon capture and storage (CCS). Jeswani and his team explored innovative approaches, such as converting BFG into transport fuels using chemical looping with reverse water-gas shift reaction (CL-RWGS) followed by the Fischer-Tropsch process.
The findings are promising yet complex. CCU-based scenarios can reduce the climate change impact of steel production by 11–45%, while CCS scenarios can achieve reductions of 17–34%. However, these gains come with significant trade-offs. “The CCU-based scenarios, while effective in reducing CO2 emissions, lead to substantial increases in other environmental impacts,” Jeswani explains. “Freshwater consumption, land use, human toxicity, and other factors can increase by 60% to as much as 60 times, primarily due to the large quantities of hydrogen required for the CL-RWGS process.”
The energy penalties associated with CCS processes also increase other environmental impacts, though not as dramatically as in the CCU scenarios. “These findings underscore the need for a balanced approach,” Jeswani notes. “While CCU and CCS technologies offer pathways to decarbonisation, they also present new challenges that must be addressed through further research and innovation.”
For the energy sector, these insights are crucial. The steel industry is a significant consumer of energy and a major contributor to global CO2 emissions. As the world transitions to a low-carbon economy, the sector must find ways to reduce its environmental footprint without compromising production efficiency. The study highlights the potential of CCU and CCS technologies but also the need for improvements in hydrogen production methods and overall process efficiency.
The research published in Carbon Capture Science & Technology, which translates to ‘Carbon Capture Science & Technology’ in English, serves as a wake-up call for the industry. It emphasizes the importance of holistic environmental assessments and the need for continued innovation in decarbonisation technologies. As Jeswani and his team continue to refine these processes, the future of steel production could see a significant shift towards sustainability, shaping the energy sector’s landscape in profound ways. The journey to net-zero is fraught with challenges, but with advancements like these, the path forward becomes clearer and more achievable.
