Nuclear and clean hydrogen are among the big energy movers in the
race to help reduce the world’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Now, a new report from the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) has identified a combination of the two as a potential game-changer in
progressing the development of “green” steel.
Leading global iron ore producer Rio Tinto has described green
steel as the “holy grail” of the iron ore industry’s commitment to decarbonise.
The IAEA also says using low carbon nuclear power to produce hydrogen could
have an impact on the industry’s decarbonisation aims.
Steel production accounts for more than 7% of global CO2
emissions.
That percentage is set to soar in the coming decades along with a
rising demand for steel, which is vital for sectors ranging from energy and
transport to construction and consumer appliances.
Nuclear energy could help put steel production on a path to net
zero.
New
cleaner methodology
About two billion tonnes of steel are currently produced annually
around the world and steel demand is projected to rise by more than a third by
2050.
The steel industry largely depends on coking coal to power blast
furnaces, which turn iron ore into steel, a process that emits large quantities
of CO2.
However, it is possible to create steel using a method called
direct reduction of iron, in which hydrogen reacts with iron ore without
melting and emits water vapour and no CO2.
“The amount of hydrogen needed to create green steel is
staggering,” said Francesco Ganda, technical lead for non‑electric applications
at the IAEA.
“Traditionally, fossil fuels have been used to generate almost all
hydrogen, therefore finding the necessary amount of decarbonised hydrogen is
going to be one of the biggest challenges.”
“Nuclear hydrogen production, with zero emissions, can really be a
game-changer for the sector as nuclear power has the potential to provide
sufficient heat and electricity 24/7 to produce the required amount of
hydrogen.”
“This could help to
make huge strides in the clean energy transition.”