Carbon Reduction in Heavy Industry

Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Steel

Steelmaking uses coal both as a source of heat and as part of the chemical process of converting iron ore to elemental iron. Both of these uses produce carbon dioxide. Eliminating CO2 emissions from steelmaking requires a change in process. Using hydrogen as the heat source and Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) to reduce CO2 emissions are important first steps.
Rolled steel production
Adjusting for the Future

Many steelmakers have begun replacing their existing blast furnaces with direct reduced iron (DRI) and electric arc furnaces (EAF) facilities that can use hydrogen and renewable electricity. Beyond investments in alternative steelmaking technologies, capital is required to support development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. Linde, as a leading producer of hydrogen, is also focused on carbon capture and sequestration technologies to prevent atmospheric release of carbon dioxide.

Steel melting using oxy-fuel system
Decarbonization with Oxygen

Electric arc furnaces have three primary uses for oxygen. Oxygen is used to run oxy-fuel burners for heating and melting scrap metal. Oxygen combined with high-velocity lancing is used in localized scrap melting processes, decarburization of steel and slag foaming. Finally, oxygen is used in injection processes for post combustion of carbon dioxide. Using Linde Green™ oxygen produced with zero-carbon energy sources further reduces the production's carbon footprint.

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