China has set a target of hitting net zero emissions by 2060. However, a March report revealed it had fallen short of a 2023 milestone toward this goal.
As the world’s biggest consumer of iron ore, China still largely relies on coal-fired blast furnaces for the production of steel, which is an emissions-intensive process. In Europe, the industry is replacing aging blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces, powered by renewable energy.
BHP boss, Mike Henry, recently told a Beijing business forum that China should not be compared with Europe, given its younger blast furnace fleet. “Many Chinese blast furnace mills are state-of-the-art already and far less energy-intensive than other blast furnaces on the market.”
The blast furnace fleet across greater Asia is mostly less than 10 years old and has a life span of 60 years.
“Chinese steelmakers are understandably looking at continuing to use these assets,” Mr Henry said. “However, they are also showing deep commitment to reducing their carbon intensity and are pursuing opportunities like hydrogen injection, as well as applying a technology like Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage to abate higher and higher amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. BHP is supporting further investigation of this effort through multiple partnerships.”
Hydrobe® technology is well suited for helping steel works mitigate emissions. Our patented process funnels flue gases into a photobioreactor containing a species of natural microbial algae evolved to ingest CO2 at concentrations of 10-15% with unprecedented efficiency. The algae then pass through a series of biological processes resulting in a biomass that’s free of cellulose but rich in lipids and proteins. Large volumes of green hydrogen are generated as a by-product.
This biomass is a high quality feedstock for products such as sustainable aviation fuel, bio-plastics and animal feed. It may also be used as an alternative to metallurgical coal. Recycling carbon dioxide to reduce fossil fuel consumption provides an opportunity to decarbonize hard to abate processes such as the steel blast furnace.
To learn more, visit www.hydrobe.com
Read the Mike Henry article published in The Australian:
Comments