Technical and economic assessment of iron and steelmaking decarbonization via power to gas and amine scrubbing

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2023-08, Vol.276, p.127616, Article 127616
• Main Authors: Perpiñán, Jorge, Bailera, Manuel, Peña, Begoña, Romeo, Luis M., Eveloy, Valerie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: air; carbon; carbon dioxide; CO2 capture; Decarbonization; economic analysis; electricity; electrolysis; energy; European Union; furnaces; hydrogen; iron; Iron and steel industry; Ironmaking; Methanation; natural gas; oxygen; Power-to-gas; steel
• ISSN: 0360-5442
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.127616

The iron and steel industry is one of the most energy-intensive industries, emitting 5% of the total anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2). The control of CO2 emissions has become increasingly stringent in the European Union (EU), resulting in EU allowance above 90 €/tCO2. Carbon capture will be required to achieve CO2 emissions control, and carbon utilization via power-to-gas could significantly increase interest in carbon capture in the iron and steel sector. This paper presents a new concept that combines amine scrubbing with power-to-gas to reduce emissions in blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace steelmaking plants. Synthetic natural gas (SNG) is produced using green hydrogen from water electrolysis and CO2 from steelmaking. The synthetic natural gas is later used as a reducing agent in the blast furnace, constantly recycling carbon in a closed loop and avoiding geological storage. The oxygen by-produced via electrolysis eliminates the necessity of an air separation unit. By applying these innovations to steelmaking, a reduction in CO2 emissions of 9.4% is obtained with an energy penalty of 16.2 MJ/kgCO2, and economic costs of 52 €/tHM or 283 €/tCO2. A sensitivity analysis with respect to electricity and the CO2 allowances prices is also performed. •Novel power-to-gas and amine scrubbing integration proposed for BF-BOF steel making.•Detailed steel plant process model developed and validated.•Technical viability of the novel process concept demonstrated.•A reduction of 9.4% in CO2 emissions has been achieved.•The novel concept would be profitable under 35 €/MWh and 177 €/tCO2.