Carbon Footprint and Energy Transformation Analysis of Steel Produced via a Direct Reduction Plant with an Integrated Electric Melting Unit

Abstract The production of flat steel products is commonly linked to highly integrated sites, which include hot metal generation via the blast furnace, basic oxygen furnace (BOF), continuous casting, and subsequent hot-rolling. In order reach carbon neutrality a shift away from traditional carbon-based metallurgy required within next decades. Direct reduction (DR) plants are capable support this transition allow even stepwise in CO 2 emissions. Nevertheless, implementation these DR into metallurgical includes various challenges. Besides metallurgy, product quality, logistics, special attention given on future energy demand. On basis footprint methodology (ISO 14067:2019) different scenarios evaluated values possible equivalent (CO eq) coupled with demand hydrogen, electricity, natural gas, coal. While furnace—BOF route delivers surplus electricity range 0.7 MJ/kg hot-rolled coil; turns deficit about 17 coil for hydrogen-based direct an electric melting unit. other hand, while furnace-related 2.1 kg eq/kg can be reduced 0.76 hydrogen-related route, provided that input renewable energies. Thereby impact processes site 0.15 coil. Yet, if has current German or European grid mix, respective increases up 3.0 This underlines importance availability Graphical