10.12.

2009

The Future of Steel

Basic Principles and General Lessons
Dr. Gunnar Still, Corporate Coordinator Environment and
Climate
Dr. Hans-Jrn Weddige, Head of Corporate Climate Policies
10.12.2009

ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe

Future of Steel is governed by rules, regulations and

restrictions
Fe2O3 & C => Fe & CO2
Steel Making does not exist isolated and
independent. It is governed by many laws, rules,
regulations and restrictions
Physical laws and technological boundaries
Legal framework
Market restrictions and trade rules
Social framework
Governments and society must make informed
decisions on where and how to sensibly add extra
rules and restrictions.
Successful steel making requires to operate within
these frames and continue to explore new
sustainable ways forward.
ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe

10.12.2009

Sources for Steel Making Iron Ore and Scrap

Fe2O3 & C => Fe & CO2
Iron Ore Supplies
Physically plentiful
Commercially increasingly restricted
- National export controls
- Consolidation and Monopolisation of Iron Ore
Market
Rio Tinto BHP Billiton

Scrap as a substitute is used to its fullest potential

40 year average return time
Steel industry in 2050 will still depend on both inputs.
Availability must be ensured
Quality issues need to be addressed
ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe

CO2 and Climate Change Impact of and on Steelmaking

Fe2O3 & C => Fe & CO2
Steelmaking is a major source of anthropogenic CO2
Major R&D efforts
ULCOS: Collaboration of major steel companies
(ArcelorMittal, Corus, ThyssenKrupp, etc.)
- Industrial implementability not yet clear
- Huge technical and economic uncertainties in upscaling
- Natural replacement rate of equipment
measures in decades

CCS a solution or a dead end?

CO2 does not disappear

ULCOS II a) & b)

ULCOS I

CCR ideas for a true future?

ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe

10.12.2009

Carbon and the Future of Steelmaking

Fe2O3 & C => Fe & CO2
Coal availability
Quality of coals
Availability of coking coals
Biomass as an alternative?
Historic lessons in Europe disastrous
Quantity issue
Logistic barriers
Future reducing agents
Hydrogen, Electrons, ?

ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe

Steel Reason and Measure for our Activities

Fe2O3 & C => Fe & CO2
Alternative Materials as a solution?
No!
OK, yes; but they will mostly be new steels
Future of Steel Demand
Continuing Demand Increase (all materials 2-3 x)
Shifting of Demand (Asia today, Africa ?)
Increased Pressure from Costumers and Users
Future of Steel Use
Products and Lifestyles will change, but still
requires stuff
Steel will remain the industrial backbone of the
post-modern society

ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe

10.12.2009

Framework Conditions required for successful solutions

Fe2O3 & C => Fe & CO2
Steelmaking does not happen on its own, but needs
favourable conditions.
Technical understanding
Economic attractiveness
Legal operating conditions
Globalisation is not threat but working reality.
Global industry needs global level-playing fields
Political and societal acceptance of steel industry as
foundation for a sustainable future is key.
Human Resource might be our overwhelming
challenge of the next decades.

ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe

Stahl bridges the gaps

to a climate friendly
sustainable future!
structural
material for
infrastructure

Heat-treated heavy plate for high performance applications

Mobile Cranes: Relation Lifting Capacity to Weight in use raised

to 8:1

generator

Functional material:
only steel can transform
motion in electricity
and vice versa

transformer

electrical motor

Grain-orientated Electrical Steel for effective energy generation

Efficiency up to 99%

ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe