Despite the emergence of aluminum and plastics, steel has remained a commonly used material as it offers strength, malleability, and durability for a low price. Japan is one of the largest steel producers worldwide. Much of the home-produced steel is used domestically by several sectors, such as the construction and automotive manufacturing industries.
. The country lacks the necessary natural resources that are needed for steel production and
Steel will continue to be indispensable but the collective aim to achieve a carbon neutral economy is creating new challenges to the industry. To comply with society's expectations Japanese steelmakers will need to shift from traditional emission-intensive to carbon-neutral production methods.
Iron ore, coke, and heat: producing steel
Several processes need to be undergone until a finished steel product is ready for use. As native iron is scarce, iron ore is used instead, which is abundant but has the drawback that it is made of iron oxides and dirt. To get the desirable iron, the oxygen is driven out from this compound via reduction processes. The standard reducing agent used today is carbon in the form of coke. In the case of the prevalent
blast furnace, coke reduces the iron oxides while providing extreme heat to melt it. Limestone binds coarse impurities and lowers the melting point. The resulting pig iron, an intermediary product, needs further processing in another furnace to remove the last impurities, such as excess carbon and slag. After adding optionally special ferroalloys and substances to the crude steel (special steel),
steel is cast and rolled into various products.
Emission targets of Japanese steelmakers
The leading steelmakers in Japan – Nippon Steel, JFE, and Kobe Steel – have challenged themselves to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Without their actions, Japan can hardly attain its congruent national target, as
emissions from the steel sector account for a high share of total emissions within the industrial sector. Fortunately, aside from carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS), there are various methods and technologies to mitigate most of these, the simplest of which is to increase the share of steel scrap in production. An energy-saving method in the production process is to directly reduce iron without melting it. Moreover, one could opt for electric arc furnaces over basic oxygen furnaces for refining intermediary products. However, the most impactful way to save emissions during production is to
use a carbon-neutral reducing agent such as green hydrogen. Each company has included these technologies in its strategic plans. Ultimately, the highest obstacle might be staying competitive amidst this challenging environment.
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