Written by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA), and the Climate Group’s SteelZero initiative, the report makes several recommendations for a steel dual decarbonisation approach
The paper, titled The role of scrap in steel decarbonisation: key facts and considerations for the construction sector, has been written to help policymakers and the construction sector as a whole work towards a decarbonised sector.
A two-step approach to steel dual decarbonisation
The steel industry is responsible for 7-9% of global carbon emissions, producing 2bn tonnes of steel annually, and more than half of that goes to the construction industry.
The paper investigates the steel industry’s drive to decarbonisation, showing that while many in the steel sector are calling for and working towards higher rates and quantities of steel recycling, the recovery rate is near its maximum.
One of the key takeaways includes policy, investment, and incentives to focus on decarbonising primary steelmaking using iron ore as well as the recycling of scrap steel.
It argues that the main product of the sector is primary steel (produced from iron ore), accounting for over two-thirds of all steel produced, and secondary steel (produced from recycled ferrous scrap). This aspect would serve decarbonisation better to reach net zero.
Furthermore, recycling alone will cause the sector to miss the 2050 decarbonisation targets required by international law.
Several recommendations have been made
The report recommends that designers and specifiers:
- Agree with clients a steel procurement and design approach that reduces global GHG emissions while also reducing project emissions;
- Procure steel from producers aligned with dual decarbonisation commitments;
- Make low carbon decisions by minimising the use of materials as far as possible through the concepts of material efficiency and the circular economy.
Policymakers are advised to:
- Invest in low-carbon iron and steel production technologies such as green hydrogen and DRI (Direct Reduced Iron);
- Research ways to normalise emissions reporting to account for the limitations of using globally constrained materials, and create simple mechanisms to help industry more easily adopt this approach;
- Prioritise policies for the efficient use and reuse of steel.
Will Arnold, head of climate action at IStructE, says: “Ninety per cent of the steel industry’s greenhouse gas emissions come from primary steelmaking. Because the world will rely on primary steel for many decades to come, it is of utmost importance that this becomes a decarbonisation focus. All the technical solutions already exist, such as zero-carbon iron production; now the industry must accelerate the transition.”
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