Published: 10th May, 2024
Context
India is exploring the idea of requiring automobile companies, particularly those producing premium or ultra high-end models, to procure green steel. This steel is distinguished by its low-carbon emissions during production. Moreover, the proposal also includes plans to encourage the use of green steel in government projects.
What is Green Steel?
- Green steel is steel that is produced without using fossil fuels.
- Green Hydrogen: One solution to achieve this is by using "green hydrogen," which emits only water when burned. Green hydrogen is produced through a process called electrolysis, using water and renewable electricity, making it free of CO? emissions.
- Electric arc furnaces: Another method is using electric arc furnaces instead of traditional ones. While these furnaces are becoming more common, the steel they produce may not always be considered green if they are not powered by renewable sources.
What is the need of green steel?
- Iron and steel manufacturing is one of the most energy- and carbon-intensive industries globally.
- India's steel sector contributes approximately 12% of the country's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The emission intensity of the steel industry in India is 2.55 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of crude steel (tCO2/tcs), higher than the global average of 1.85 tCO2/tcs.
- Annually, the steel industry emits around 240 million tonnes of CO2, and this is expected to double rapidly by 2030 due to the Indian government's infrastructure development goals.
Challenges
- Using green hydrogen for steel production is the cleanest method available. However, it's costly. Investing in this technology might make steelmakers less competitive because steel is a widely traded product.
- High cost of green steel implies that there is insufficient demand for it in the absence of policy action.
Fact Box: India’s Steel Sector
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PYQ
Q: Consider the following heavy industries: (2013)
Green hydrogen is expected to play a significant role in decarbonizing how many of the above industries?
Solution: (c) |
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