Environ-economic analysis of hydrogen integration in decarbonizing the UK iron and steel industry: A comparative study of progressive and disruptive technical routes

IF 11 1区工程技术 Q1 ENERGY & FUELS

Applied Energy Pub Date : 2025-04-03 DOI:10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125762

Jiatai Wang , Xiaoyue Zhang , Thorin Daniel , Jhuma Sadhukhan , Lirong Liu

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Abstract

Carbon emission reduction in the UK's iron and steel industry, which is responsible for approximately 26 % of national industrial emissions, is essential for the UK's commitment to meet its net zero promise. Hydrogen, as a promising substitute for fossil reductant/fuel, can be utilized in the iron and steel industry to achieve low carbon emissions. In this study, 12 various technical routes that integrate different hydrogen technologies into iron-making processes are modelled and an environ-economic analysis is conducted looking at the carbon emission reduction potential and cost. Considered hydrogen production methods are alkaline electrolysis (AEL), proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis, anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolysis, bipolar membrane (BPM) electrolysis and seawater (SW) electrolysis and steam methane reforming combined with carbon capture, utilization, and storage (SMR + CCUS), while the considered iron-making processes are hydrogen injection into blast furnace (H₂ + BF) and hydrogen-based direct reduction (H-DR). It is found that the only technical route that is unable to reduce carbon emission under any scenario is SMR + H₂ + BF. Hydrogen from electrolysis can achieve more effective carbon abatement, but its economic feasibility is significantly influenced by electricity costs and grid carbon intensity. H-DR shows a larger carbon emission reduction potential compared to H₂ + BF. Evaluated comprehensively from the aspect of carbon emission reduction effectiveness and cost, SMR + H-DR is the most promising technical route. As the power grid carbon intensity decreased, shifting from SMR + H-DR to Electrolysis + H-DR became a more effective transition route, especially for countries currently relying on high‑carbon intensity grids. The impact of the inflation rate on the technical routes is also examined in this study.

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英国钢铁工业脱碳过程中氢气整合的环境经济分析：进步与颠覆技术路线的比较研究

英国钢铁行业的碳排放量约占全国工业排放量的26%，减少钢铁行业的碳排放量对英国实现净零排放的承诺至关重要。氢作为化石还原剂/燃料的一种很有前途的替代品，可用于钢铁工业实现低碳排放。在本研究中，对12种不同的技术路线进行了建模，将不同的氢技术整合到炼铁过程中，并对碳减排潜力和成本进行了环境经济分析。考虑的制氢方法有碱性电解（AEL）、质子交换膜（PEM）电解、阴离子交换膜（AEM）电解、双极膜（BPM）电解、海水（SW）电解和蒸汽甲烷重整结合碳捕集利用与封存（SMR + CCUS），考虑的炼铁工艺有高炉注氢（H2 + BF）和氢基直接还原（H-DR）。研究发现，在任何情景下，SMR + H2 + BF是唯一不能降低碳排放的技术路线。电解制氢可以实现更有效的碳减排，但其经济可行性受到电力成本和电网碳强度的显著影响。与H2 + BF相比，H-DR具有更大的碳减排潜力。从碳减排效果和成本两方面综合评价，SMR + H-DR是最有前途的技术路线。随着电网碳强度的降低，从SMR + H-DR向电解+ H-DR转变成为更有效的过渡路线，特别是对于目前依赖高碳强度电网的国家而言。本研究亦探讨通货膨胀率对技术路线的影响。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Applied Energy 工程技术-工程：化工

CiteScore

21.20

自引率

10.70%

发文量

1830

审稿时长

41 days

期刊介绍： Applied Energy serves as a platform for sharing innovations, research, development, and demonstrations in energy conversion, conservation, and sustainable energy systems. The journal covers topics such as optimal energy resource use, environmental pollutant mitigation, and energy process analysis. It welcomes original papers, review articles, technical notes, and letters to the editor. Authors are encouraged to submit manuscripts that bridge the gap between research, development, and implementation. The journal addresses a wide spectrum of topics, including fossil and renewable energy technologies, energy economics, and environmental impacts. Applied Energy also explores modeling and forecasting, conservation strategies, and the social and economic implications of energy policies, including climate change mitigation. It is complemented by the open-access journal Advances in Applied Energy.