The Green Steel Cycle
Steel is the structural backbone for much of the world’s modern infrastructure. Its widespread use has become a double-edged sword: while it has enabled our progress, its traditional production methods have cast a long shadow on the environment. The high-energy, carbon-intensive processes involved in steelmaking have contributed significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, causing as much as 10% of the world’s CO2 production. Currently, the world produces more than 1.8 billion tons of steel a year, which causes the release of nearly twice that weight in carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
A Structural Steel Frame Building
The traditional steelmaking process relies heavily on coal-based coke, a carbon-rich fuel that releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when burned. Additionally, the high temperatures required for steel production further exacerbate the environmental impact. This reliance on fossil fuels has traditionally made the steel industry a major contributor to climate change.
However, a groundbreaking innovation from Sweden is poised to revolutionize steel production and usher in a greener future. SSAB, a leading Swedish steelmaker, has developed a process to produce “green steel” using hydrogen instead of coal. This revolutionary approach eliminates the need for coke, drastically reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
SSAB Green Steel Timeline
Hydrogen, when produced from renewable energy sources like wind or solar power, is a clean and sustainable fuel, with water as the main byproduct. Free hydrogen is created by electrolysis. By electrical charge through water, oxygen is made at the anode, and hydrogen is generated at the cathode end. If the electricity used to create the two gases is produced sustainably then those gasses become sustainable as well. By replacing coal with hydrogen, SSAB’s process significantly lowers the carbon footprint of its steel production. This breakthrough can potentially transform the steel industry, making it more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
The implications of green steel are far-reaching. It could pave the way for a much greener construction industry, reduce carbon emissions from transportation, and contribute to a more sustainable future for humanity. As the world grapples with the climate crisis, green steel offers a ray of hope. It demonstrates that scientific innovation and technological advancements can help us mitigate the environmental impact of our industrial processes.
Hydrogen Production By Electrolysis
While many challenges remain, such as the need for large-scale hydrogen production and infrastructure, the potential benefits of green steel are undeniable. By embracing this revolutionary technology, hopefully, the planet can find a path toward a cleaner, more sustainable future, where steel production no longer comes at the expense of our planet.
Ross Cann, RA, AIA, LEED AP, is an author, historian, teacher and practicing architect living and working in Newport, RI. He studied Molecular Biophysics at Yale College, and holds degrees in Architectural History and Architecture Design from Cambridge University in England, and Columbia University in New York.