What is green steel?
According to the World Economic Forum, Green steel is steel that does not use fossil fuels. Essentially, the steel is composed of green/blue hydrogen, a solution to one of the world’s dirtiest industries as described by CNN in related stories. Even though green steel can be produced it takes up a lot of green/blue hydrogen. However, it’s a lot safer and more beneficial to the environment.
How is green steel beneficial compared to normal steel?
According to all sources in related stories, green steel is more beneficial than normal steel because it reduces carbon emissions, and it makes steel a much cleaner environment. According to steeltechnology.com in related stories, green steel gives many benefits like enhanced air quality and healthier communities because it reduces airborne pollutants. It also creates jobs because of research and development. It even saves natural resources which helps ecosystems and communities.
China and the E.U. wants to switch to renewable hydrogen the composer of steel
China is the world’s highest steel producer with making around 52.9% of the world’s steel according to WEForum in related stories, but they are realizing that carbon emissions are being very high right now, so they set a mission to increase the use of renewable hydrogen by 2030 and has pledged to be carbon-neutral by 2060 according to the world economic forum. The E.U. also plans to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 their plan called the “REPowerEU plan” has set a target to greatly increase the use of hydrogen.
Disadvantages to Green Steel and more information to MOE:
According to MIT technology review in related stories, an estimate from researchers at Columbia University found that if we were to use Boston Metal’s MOE (Molten Oxide Electrolysis) process for green steel, it would take up around 5,000 terawatt hours of electricity which is equal to 20% of the global power consumption in 2018. According to CNN in related stories, green steel is more costly than traditional steel by up to 30%. Molten Oxide Electrolysis according to MIT technology review, is a new approach because instead of using carbon to remove oxygen, it uses electricity. MOE also uses dissolved iron oxide and other types of oxides and materials. Electricity from the MOE heats up to 3000 degrees Fahrenheit or 1600 degrees Celsius to dissolve these materials into a liquid.
Conclusion
While Green steel might be more costly and energy-consuming, green steel has created jobs, has made parts of the world cleaner, reduced carbon emissions, etc…) Green steel makes the world cleaner than normal steel because green steel uses less pollutants and less carbon emissions.
Related Stories
What is green steel and how can it help us reach net zero? | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)
How green steel made with electricity could clean up a dirty industry | MIT Technology Review
Green Steel Production: Sustainable Practices and Carbon Reduction (steel-technology.com)
Striving for green steel | Nature Materials
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