Abstract:

This paper presents the best practices focused on energy management in the steel industry in the face of decarbonisation. Decarbonising this sector constitutes a global challenge in the context of regulatory constraints and societal pressures aimed at reducing carbon emissions or even achieving carbon neutrality by the end of 2050. Many solutions are currently being implemented and tested in the industry, but the problem of achieving the carbon target remains complex and difficult. Even though there are several approaches to reducing CO₂ emissions in the steel industry, the choice of technology depends on various factors, such as the availability and price of resources, carbon pricing existing legislation, and safety regulations. Among the potential directions for decarbonising the steel industry, the following are mentioned in particular: using green hydrogen instead of coal, renewable energy sources, and the energy management of post-process gases. Newly built heating furnaces must be capable of running on hydrogen using renewable energy. Steel mills using coal or gas can switch to hydrogen, thus strengthening the market for this fuel, which will reduce its price, as well as the company's competitiveness.