Steel industry in transition: Students advance green technologies!

Steel industry in transition: Students advance green technologies!

The steel industry's challenges are large and vary from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to creating more sustainable energy production. On a recent visit to a steelworks in Eisenhüttenstadt, made possible by a scholarship from the Technical University of Freiberg, students gained valuable insights into this topic. Clara Zerbs, a process engineering student, and Fabian Bertram, a master's student in energy technology, explored the practice of steel production together with other fellow students and held discussions with employees about modern green technologies. The aim of the visit was to strengthen the connection between theory and practice and to advance environmentally friendly technologies.

Bertram paid particular attention to the decarbonization of pig iron production. This is extrapolated, among other things, through the use of sponge iron, which is produced from renewable energies. The interest in such technologies shows how important it is to manage the transition to more sustainable steel production. According to the LGT The steel industry is responsible for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions, particularly related to the use of carbon-intensive fuels.

The path to decarbonization

The international community's goals are ambitious: greenhouse gas emissions should reach net zero by the middle of the century. This requires a fundamental transformation of literally every aspect of energy and goods production, transport and consumption. The path to decarbonizing steel production is a central aspect, because conventional methods, such as the blast furnace oxygen converter (BOF) process, emit around two tons of CO2 per ton of steel. In contrast, more modern methods such as the electric arc furnace (EAF) process have significantly lower emissions

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has already introduced measures to support the transition to cleaner technologies. A significant project is that of ArcelorMittal, which is receiving financing of 75 million euros to develop new plants for “green” ethanol production from exhaust gases. This initiative aims to strengthen the circular economy, using 15 percent of exhaust gases to produce ethanol that is more versatile and easier to transport.

Innovative technologies in the steel sector

Decarbonization in the steel industry involves several innovative approaches. These include, among others:

• Wasserstoffbasierte Direktreduktion
• Kohlenstoffabscheidung und -speicherung (CCS)
• Biomasse und Bioenergie
• Recycling und Kreislaufwirtschaft

These technologies are still in various stages of development and require extensive research and investment to realize their full benefits. For many companies, this is both a technical challenge and an opportunity to ensure their own competitiveness in a changing market.

In conclusion, the students who took part in this excursion not only gained valuable practical experience, but also received inspiration for their future careers. The road to more sustainable steel production is long, but the determination of future engineers like Zerbs and Bertram can play an important role in driving the required change.