Summary Reader Response (Green Steel) (Draft 1)

 

The article “How green steel made with electricity could clean up a dirty industry" by Crownhart (2022) showed that traditional steel-making produces around two tons of carbon dioxide emissions for every ton of steel produced, which is 10% of all carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. As the global steel market is set to expand around 30% by 2050, there is a need for alternative green methods as some of the largest steelmakers have since pledged to reach zero-emissions by the same date. 
According to Casey (2022), fossil fuels are quintessential in the production of steel, being heated in blast furnaces. This reacts with the impure iron ores, which contain iron oxides and other minerals, removing the oxygen and leaving liquid iron. The byproduct of this process is released as carbon dioxide, which is harmful to the environment as it absorbs the sun’s energy and an excess of this gas will lead to global warming.
According to the same article by Casey (2022), Boston Metal’s green solution utilises a new process called molten oxide electrolysis (MOE), where electricity is run through a cell containing the iron oxides and materials, melting it down. The electricity used in the heating process also drives the chemical reactions responsible for removing oxygen from the iron oxides and materials, emitting oxygen gas instead of carbon dioxide.
Hence, The processes that make up Boston Steel's "Green Steel" will be able to significantly decrease the carbon footprint the steelmaking industry is making as more steelmakers implement Boston Steel’s new processes.



References:

Crownhart, C. (2022, June 28). How green steel made with electricity could clean up a dirty industry. MIT Technology Review. Retrieved January 25, 2023, from https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/06/28/1055027/green-steel-electricity-boston-metal/ 

25, S. F. |F., Fecht, S., Joe, Keller, J. L., H., D., Climie, I., Levenson, B. P., Hidden, N., Mackenzie, D., Weller, Dennis, Edeen, E., Ddp, Adams, P., Vance, J., Bian, Q., James, Scroggins, L. J., Madden, K., … Shiff, A. (2021, March 17). How exactly does carbon dioxide cause global warming? State of the Planet. Retrieved January 25, 2023, from https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2021/02/25/carbon-dioxide-cause-global-warming/ 

What is green steel and how can it help us reach net zero? World Economic Forum. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/07/green-steel-emissions-net-zero/

Naujok, D. N., Stamm, H., & Knopf, M. (2021, December 17). Decarbonizing Steel.
Oliver Wyman - Impact-Driven Strategy Advisors. Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights/2021/dec/decarbonizing-steel.html

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