Chasing shadows: technology and socioeconomic barriers versus climate targets for iron and steel industry

Purpose: To analyse the potential of various scenarios for reduction of carbon footprint of iron and steel sector and to reveal plausible pathways for modernisation. Design/methodology/approach: Several scenarios have been developed in order to assess the dynamics and extent of decarbonisation required to meet the global climate change mitigation target. This includes deployment of the best available technologies, increased share of secondary steel production route and deployment of innovative ironmaking technologies with various decarbonisation extent achieved in a variable timeframe. Findings: The window of opportunities to ensure compliance of steel sector development with climate goal still exists though shrinks. Modernisation shall include global deployment of best available technologies, increased share of secondary steel production and rapid deployment of innovative technologies including carbon capture and storage. Delayed modernisation will require much deeper decarbonisation, which will increase the total cost of mitigation. International policies shall be put in place to ensure availability of funding and to assist technology transfer. Short term transition strategies shall be employed as soon as possible for bridging long term climate change mitigation strategies and current state of the iron and steel industry worldwide. Research limitations/implications: Methodology applied takes into account the best available technologies and some novel ironmaking methods with the potential for commercialisation during the next decade; however, it is implied that the radically innovative iron- and steelmaking technologies with near-zero CO2 emissions will not be mature enough to deliver tangible impact on the sector’s carbon footprint before 2050. Practical implications: Obtained results can be helpful for definition of the modernisation strategies (both state-level and corporate) for the iron and steel industry. Originality/value: Dynamics and extent of decarbonisation required to meet global climate change mitigation targets have been revealed and the results can be valuable for assessment of the consistency of sectoral climate strategies with global targets.