Techno-economic analysis of hydrogen-based approaches for emission mitigation for the steel industry

With a share of up to 6 % of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, the metal and steel industry is one of the largest emitters of CO2 globally. Especially the production of steel, where fossil feedstocks are used to chemically bind the iron ores’ oxygen to obtain iron or steel, is in dire need of low-carbon future-proof technologies. While such schemes were proposed, literature data is inconsistent regarding the assumptions and boundary conditions. A large scale of necessary investments, complex supply chains, and long planning periods are required for a successful realization of decarbonization. Therefore, the necessary academical basis is to be completed as soon as possible in order to achieve a carbon-neutral industry by 2045. In this work a comprehensive dataset based on experimental data and validated process models with seamlessly integrated economic components is presented. The modular nature of the models allows for the investigation into technical and economic aspects of different process pathways. Based on the derived unified dataset, the impact of different tools for governmental support was quantified and the validity evaluated.