Emission reduction strategies in the EU steel industry: Implications for business model innovation

Axelson, Matilda; Oberthür, Sebastian; Nilsson, Lars J

doi:10.1111/jiec.13124

Cited by 42 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Influential parameters or material efficiency strategies to reduce GHG emissions have been explored at economy-wide levels, 22 in specific sectors in Germany, 23,24 and for the EU and United States steel cycles. 25,26 However, global environmental impacts associated with the production of different metals have not been fully analyzed, considering not only material efficiency but also material stock dynamics, varying growth among different income level groups, etc. This results in an insufficient understanding of effective measures to reduce the global environmental impact of metal production in relation to future socio-economic narratives.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Future greenhouse gas emissions from metal production: gaps and opportunities towards climate goals

Yokoi

Watari

Motoshita

2022

Energy Environ. Sci.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Future greenhouse gas emissions from metal production: gaps and opportunities towards climate goals

Yokoi

Watari

Motoshita

2022

Energy Environ. Sci.

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“…The technology and material efficiency scenarios assessed could be encouraged through new business models (Allwood, 2013). Axelson et al (2021) provide a systematic evaluation of the business models that could be used to implement industrial decarbonisation strategies in the steel industry.…”

Section: Developing Effective Business Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technology and material efficiency scenarios for net zero emissions in the UK steel sector

Garvey

Norman

Barrett

2022

Journal of Cleaner Production

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With the UK's legislation of a 2050 net zero emissions target, there is urgent need for radical industrial decarbonisation. The steel sector represented 12% of UK industrial emissions in 2016 and is therefore a critical target for mitigation. Mainstream scenario analyses variously assume use of unproven Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) or reductions to steel demand in order to reach a 1.5 • C compatible budget by 2050. This analysis aims to: a) assess the mitigation potential of current technology options (excluding CCS) towards a cumulative budget aligned to net zero and assuming constant steel demand; b) to evaluate the potential of material efficiency to close any mitigation gaps, (where material efficiency is providing the same useful 'service' with less input of energy-intensive materials); and c) to discuss the importance of sectoral budget assumptions and other uncertainties in estimating the scale of future mitigation required by the industry and the policy implications of this. We modelled four key technology scenarios including steel plant retrofit, replacement of steelmaking technologies to best practice standards, fuel shifts to greater Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) production, and implementation of selected novel technologies, under different ambition levels. Technology scenarios could reduce cumulative Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions (2016-2050) by as much as 44% against a constant baseline, whilst coupled technology and material efficiency scenarios could achieve reductions of as much as 53%. We also find that whilst grid electricity decarbonisation and earlier demand reduction can achieve additional mitigation, there may still be a need for some CCS capacity in the long-term to address residual emissions. In the most ambitious case, absolute GHG emissions from the steel sector reduced by 80% by 2050 against 2016 levels, assuming grid decarbonisation. We found that the most effective interventions were through established technologies, such as retrofit, replacement and EAF production, since they were immediately available, with the condition they are implemented faster than previously observed. Given the commercialisation constraints of novel technologies, structural shifts such as material efficiency and EAF production were considered highly important. However, structural changes are necessarily more complex to influence via policy, and there is little precedent for structural change by design in the UK. Our results show that only complementary scenarios combining material efficiency and technology options would achieve a level of mitigation near to net zero in the UK. We conclude that it is possible to achieve net zero emissions in the UK steel sector, but that this would require greater and earlier levels of material efficiency and some degree of CCS removal capacity.

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“…Other forms of innovation, e.g. regarding organizational structures and business models throughout the value chains, may also be needed (Olivetti & Cullen, 2018), although the demand and scope for such innovations also depends on the pathways followed to zero emissions (Axelson et al, 2021).…”

Section: Knowledge Creation and Innovationmentioning

confidence: 99%

An industrial policy framework for transforming energy and emissions intensive industries towards zero emissions

et al. 2021

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The target of zero emissions sets a new standard for industry and industrial policy. Industrial policy in the twenty-first century must aim to achieve zero emissions in the energy and emissions intensive industries. Sectors such as steel, cement, and chemicals have so far largely been sheltered from the effects of climate policy. A major shift is needed, from contemporary industrial policy that mainly protects industry to policy strategies that transform the industry. For this purpose, we draw on a wide range of literatures including engineering, economics, policy, governance, and innovation studies to propose a comprehensive industrial policy framework. The policy framework relies on six pillars: directionality, knowledge creation and innovation, creating and reshaping markets, building capacity for governance and change, international coherence, and sensitivity to socio-economic implications of phase-outs. Complementary solutions relying on technological, organizational, and behavioural change must be pursued in parallel and throughout whole value chains. Current policy is limited to supporting mainly some options, e.g. energy efficiency and recycling, with some regions also adopting carbon pricing, although most often exempting the energy and emissions intensive industries. An extended range of options, such as demand management, materials efficiency, and electrification, must also be pursued to reach zero emissions. New policy research and evaluation approaches are needed to support and assess progress as these industries have hitherto largely been overlooked in domestic climate policy as well as international negotiations. Key policy insights. Energy and emission intensive industries can no longer be complacent about the necessity of zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. . Zero emissions require profound technology and organizational changes across whole material value chains, from primary production to reduced demand, recycling and end-of-life of metals, cement, plastics, and other materials. . New climate and industrial policies are necessary to transform basic materials industries, which are so far relatively sheltered from climate mitigation.

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Emission reduction strategies in the EU steel industry: Implications for business model innovation

Cited by 42 publications

References 49 publications

Future greenhouse gas emissions from metal production: gaps and opportunities towards climate goals

Future greenhouse gas emissions from metal production: gaps and opportunities towards climate goals

Technology and material efficiency scenarios for net zero emissions in the UK steel sector

An industrial policy framework for transforming energy and emissions intensive industries towards zero emissions

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