Resource Efficiency and Innovation Potential of Steel

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1 Resource Efficiency and Innovation Potential of Steel Sebastian Plickert German Federal EnvironmentAgency Unit III 2.2 Ressource Conservation, Material Cycles, Mineral and Metal Industries Wörlitzer Platz 1 D Dessau-Rosslau / GERMANY

2 2 Outline: 1. Overview over iron and steel production routes 2. Environmental concerns 3. Approaches for increasing the resource efficiency 4. Future demands for steel 5. Conclusions

3 3 1.Overview over current iron and steel production routes

4 4 Overview of iron and steel production in the EU (I) Blast furnace/ basic oxygen furnace route (56%) DRI/EAF route (gas-based) Electric arc furnace route (44%) Basic figure from Stahlinstitut VDEh

5 5 2.Environmental concerns of iron and steel production

6 6 Environmental concerns of iron and steel production High consumptionof rawmaterials(2,1 t of solid raw materials per t of semi-finished steel products) High energy demand(18 GJ/t liquid steel from BF/BOF route) High GHG emissions(mostlydueto theuseof cokein BF) Other emissions like dust, NOx, SOx, heavy metals, dioxins and other POPs, pollutants in waste water, noise Efficient use of raw materials is an important, but only one dimension of resource efficiency; in order to conserve our natural resources several issues have to be addressed!

BF) Other emissions like dust, NOx, SOx, heavy metals, dioxins and other POPs, pollutants in waste water, noise Efficient use of raw

7 7 3.Approaches for increasing the resource efficiency

8 8 Approaches for increasing the resource efficiency (I) a) Increasing the metal yield within existing process routes Total yield of rolled steel products compared to the Fe input has already risen from 65% to about 90% since 1960 (this applies both to BF/BOF and EAF route) Obstacles: Dueto impuritiesin therawmaterial and inevitablelossesin processing, the potential for further yield increases is limited A furtherincreaseof theyieldmayinvolvean unproportional energy demand

applies both to BF/BOF and EAF route) Obstacles: Dueto impuritiesin therawmaterial and inevitablelossesin processing,

9 9 Approaches for increasing the resource efficiency (II) b) Increasingthesteelproductionfromthesameamountof primary raw materials i.e. to increase scrap recovery and thus secondary steel production via the EAF route EAF route onlyneeds1/3 of theenergyrequiredforprimarysteel production(it could even be GHG-neutral) Obstacle: availabilityof scrapislimiteddueto dissipative losses, a risingstock of steelin useand a tradesurplusof steel-containing products

10 10 Approaches for increasing the resource efficiency (III) c) Shortening process chains Useof processesthatdo notrequiresinterand coke Obstacle: Fundamental change of production techniques Applicationof nearnet-shapecastingtechniques, e.g. Belt Strip Casting(currently in implementation) Avoid repeated reheating in steel processing e.g. byhot chargeof bloomsand billetsintotherollingplant Obstacle: May bea challangewithregardto logisticsand metallurgy

11 11 Approaches for increasing the resource efficiency (IV) d) Maximizing the utilisation of the energy input Optimizeuseof processgases, e.g. bythetop Gas Recycling blast furnace process Ready for application, but not yet applied Maximize use of (inevitable) waste heat Obstacle: Thewasteheatpotential oftendoesnotcorrespondto the local heat demand Option: Use of waste heat for steam and electricity production Obstacle: May notpayoff dueto EU ornational energypolicy

12 12 Approaches for increasing the resource efficiency (V) e) Moreefficientuseof steel by(more) durable products, e.g. with upgradable designs by lightweight constructions, e.g. using custom-tailored components and high-strength steels may also help to reduce consumption of other materials and fuels Obstacles: Conflicting product and construction standards Resource efficiency has little importance in purchase decisions Efficient use of steel is not always profitable

and fuels Obstacles: Conflicting product and construction standards Resource efficiency has little importance in

13 4.Future demands for steel 13

14 14 Future demands for steel in the EU (I) Decreaseof thesteeldemanddueto substitution by light metals or composite materials? Dueto adequateproductdevelopmentsof thesteelindustrysuch predictions have not become true yet the trend towards higher quality steel grades, e.g. highstrengthsteels, suitableforlightweightconstructions? Itmayleadto steelsavingsin certainapplications, butitisunlikely to reduce the total steel consumption Steel savingsmaybeoffsetbyreboundeffects

Dueto adequateproductdevelopmentsof thesteelindustrysuch predictions have not become true yet the trend towards

15 15 Future demands for steel in the EU (II) Increaseof thesteeldemandas thebasicmaterial for thegenerationand distributionof renewableenergy(e.g. off-shorewind turbines, supportingframeworkforsolar panels, electricity pylons) (more) durable products replacement investments in energy- and recource-efficient machinery for resource-efficient construction purposes e.g. high-strength steels for bridge construction

supportingframeworkforsolar panels, electricity pylons) (more) durable products replacement

16 5.Conclusions 16

17 17 Conclusions Innovative steel product will facilitate steel savings in various applications New demandsforsteelwill probablyoffsettheresultsof a more efficient steel use So far no indication that steel consumption will decrease Processes and techniques for a less energy- and resourcedemanding steel production are available These processes should be further developed and/or implemented by the steel industry

steel consumption will decrease Processes and techniques for a less energy- and resourcedemanding

18 18 Thank you very much for your attention!

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