What is Spain’s Zero-Carbon Steel Plant?
The steel plant is located in Sestao Spain and it belongs to ArcelorMittal which is one of the world’s leading steel and mining companies. As the steel industry is a large contributor to carbon emissions, this plant is a milestone for the industry as it will become the world’s first full-scale zero carbon emissions steel plant. By 2025, ArcelorMittal plans to produce 1.6 million tonnes of zero carbon-emissions steel.
Importance of the Sestao Plant
The steel industry is one of the largest energy-consuming and CO2-emitting industries in the world. For every tonne of steel produced, it is estimated that 1.83 tonnes of carbon dioxide are emitted. Every year, about 1800 million tonnes of steel is produced which means a massive amount of CO2 emissions. As steel is still one of the most used metals today, the groundbreaking Sestao plant could be a catalyst for the industry as it looks to become more eco-friendly.
How Is It Possible?
Several factors had to align for this project to become a reality with the first being a one billion Euro investment signed by the Spanish government. The investment goes towards the construction of a green hydrogen direct reduced iron (DRI) plant for their Gijon plant as well as a hybrid electric arc furnace (EAF) that will be installed in the Sestao plant. Here is how ArcelorMittal plans on producing zero carbon-emission steel by 2025:
- Changing the metallic input by increasing the proportion of circular, recycled scrap, and using green hydrogen-produced DRI from Gijón in its two existing EAFs.
- Powering all steelmaking assets (EAFs, rolling mill, finishing lines) with renewable electricity.
- Introducing several emerging technologies that will replace the use of fossil fuels in the steelmaking process with carbon-neutral energy inputs, such as sustainable biomass or green hydrogen.
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A New Steel Era
For the world to be net zero carbon-emissions by 2050, advancements in all industries are needed over the next decade. The Sestao plant is paving the way for the steel industry while also demonstrating what is possible to other manufacturers. If the plant can reach and exceed its production goals in this new plant, other industries will surely take notice.
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