Chapter 7
Development of Low Carbon Technology
in China’s Iron and Steel Industry
Lei Ren, Tianduo Peng, and Xunmin Ou
Abstract As iron and steel production features high energy consumption and
massive GHG emissions, the low carbon development of the industry is crucial
for China’s INDC target. Multi-pronged measures should be taken to grapple with
the problems with the industry to secure low-carbon green development. In terms
of technical solutions for the low-carbon development of the industry, improvement
is more likely on both the consumption and the production side. In terms of zero
carbon technology of iron and steel production, hydrogen steelmaking and CCUS
are among the few technical options for zero carbon development of the industry.
It’s advised to enhance the overall management of China’s iron and steel industry
both on the production and the consumption sides, promote R&D and application
of new technologies for process improvement, make technological preparations for
the recovery and recycling of steel scraps and short process steelmaking. In the long
run, theoretical research, strategic analysis and construction planning is necessary
for CCUS-hydrogen steelmaking as the goal, in a bid to facilitate the restructuring
of China’s energy mix and achieve close to zero emissions in the industry. Before
zero emission it will take long time for steel industry to transit. Step abatement of
CO 2 emission by technical innovation still is a main focus for most steel works.
Keywords Iron and steel industry · Deep decarbonization · Energy consumption ·
Greenhouse gas
L. Ren · T. Peng · X. Ou (B)
Energy Science Building C505, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
e-mail: ouxm@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Tsinghua-Rio Tinto Joint Research Centre for Resources, Energy and Sustainable
Development, Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Tsinghua
University, China’s Resources, Energy and Sustainable Development: 2020,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6100-3_7
217
Development of Low Carbon Technology
in China’s Iron and Steel Industry
Lei Ren, Tianduo Peng, and Xunmin Ou
Abstract As iron and steel production features high energy consumption and
massive GHG emissions, the low carbon development of the industry is crucial
for China’s INDC target. Multi-pronged measures should be taken to grapple with
the problems with the industry to secure low-carbon green development. In terms
of technical solutions for the low-carbon development of the industry, improvement
is more likely on both the consumption and the production side. In terms of zero
carbon technology of iron and steel production, hydrogen steelmaking and CCUS
are among the few technical options for zero carbon development of the industry.
It’s advised to enhance the overall management of China’s iron and steel industry
both on the production and the consumption sides, promote R&D and application
of new technologies for process improvement, make technological preparations for
the recovery and recycling of steel scraps and short process steelmaking. In the long
run, theoretical research, strategic analysis and construction planning is necessary
for CCUS-hydrogen steelmaking as the goal, in a bid to facilitate the restructuring
of China’s energy mix and achieve close to zero emissions in the industry. Before
zero emission it will take long time for steel industry to transit. Step abatement of
CO 2 emission by technical innovation still is a main focus for most steel works.
Keywords Iron and steel industry · Deep decarbonization · Energy consumption ·
Greenhouse gas
L. Ren · T. Peng · X. Ou (B)
Energy Science Building C505, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
e-mail: ouxm@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Tsinghua-Rio Tinto Joint Research Centre for Resources, Energy and Sustainable
Development, Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Tsinghua
University, China’s Resources, Energy and Sustainable Development: 2020,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6100-3_7
217