From coal to green power: Mapping the electrification journey of China's steel sector

As a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, China's iron and steel industry is transitioning toward electrification to meet its 2060 carbon neutrality targets. To explore the relationship between the growing electricity demand for steel production and the decarbonization of the power grid, we developed an integrated framework that combines the evolution of the industry’s electrification with the decarbonization of the nation’s power system. The results indicate that the adoption of more electricity-intensive processes will lead to a substantial increase in electricity demand, rising from 474.16 TWh to 513.19 TWh by 2060. Concurrently, as the share of coal-fired electricity declines from 68.52 % to 4.96 %, carbon emissions from electricity consumption are projected to decrease to only 14.88 % of 2020 levels, avoiding an annual emission of 260.71 million tons (Mt) through grid decarbonization. This study underscores the significant potential for emissions reduction through coordinated cross-sectoral efforts to achieve net-zero emissions.