thyssenkrupp Steel has launched what it calls a “milestone” on its journey to climate-neutral steel: its new bluemint Steel brand, which is made with less coal in the blast furnace. According to the corporation, a new production technique has allowed them to cut carbon emissions per tonne of steel by 70%.
The use of previously reduced iron (HBI) reduces the amount of coal used in the blast furnace. The method decreases CO2 emissions per tonne from 1.5 tonnes per tonne to 0.6 tonnes per tonne. Meanwhile, TÜV Süd, a German certification firm, has certified thyssenkrupp’s use of scrap in the blast furnace process as a second, independent method to CO2-reduced steel manufacturing. Similarly, the technique reduces CO2 emissions by reducing coal consumption, as less coal is used for melting scrap.
One of the biggest stumbling blocks in Germany’s efforts to switch to greener energy sources has been the country’s energy-intensive steel sector. According to a recent study performed by think tank Agora Energiewende, the steel sector need financial help of 13 to 35 billion euros to make the transition to climate-friendly steel manufacturing.