Conceptual Principles of Green Steel – Lecture at the COEN Event, UFSJ

Princípios Conceituais do Aço Verde – Palestra no Evento COEN da UFSJ

11/22/2024

Ricardo Luiz Perez Teixeira

Instituto de Engenharias Integradas da Universidade Federal de Itajubá, Itabira, MG, Brazil

ricardo.luiz@unifei.edu.br

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2641-4036

Abstract

Professor Ricardo Luiz Perez Teixeira delivered the lecture "Conceptual Principles of Green Steel" at the XII COEN – 12th Engineering Congress of the Federal University of São João del-Rei (UFSJ), held from September 23 to 27, 2024, in São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Presented online on November 25, 2024, at 9:00 AM, the lecture addressed engineers and engineering students, emphasizing sustainable steelmaking practices and the evolving concept of green steel. The term "green steel" remains broad and underdefined in academic discourse but generally refers to environmentally sustainable methods that reduce pollutant emissions, costs, and energy usage in steel production. Innovative technologies, such as hydrogen-based reduction and the use of biomass-derived charcoal, were highlighted as key strategies for decarbonization. The lecture also emphasized the importance of research, multi-institutional collaborations, and pilot projects to advance carbon-neutral steel production, showcasing global and Brazilian initiatives as benchmarks for sustainable practices.

Keywords: Biomass Charcoal, Green Steel, Hydrogen Reduction, Sustainable Steelmaking

Lecture titled "Conceptual Principles of Green Steel"

Professor Ricardo Luiz Perez Teixeira delivered a lecture titled "Conceptual Principles of Green Steel" at the XII COEN – 12th Engineering Congress of UFSJ. The event was held from September 23 to 27, 2024, in São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The lecture took place on November 25, 2024, at 9:00 AM and was presented online to an audience comprising engineers and engineering students (XII COEN, 2024). The COEN was coordinated by Professor Eduardo Miguel da Silva from the Federal University of São João del-Rei (UFSJ).

Conceptual Principles of Green Steel

The term green in an environmental context signifies practices, products, or systems aimed at minimizing negative impacts on the environment while promoting sustainability and the conservation of natural resources (Silva, Teixeira, & Brito, 2022; Souza & Pacca, 2021). Companies frequently use terms such as eco-friendly to classify products and practices that meet environmental criteria (Li, 2024; Sbardelotto, Froemming, & Sbardelotto, 2016; Silva, Teixeira, & Brito, 2022; UNO, 2024).

In academic circles, there is no consensus on the definition of green steel. Muslemani et al. (2021) argue that the concept is broad and remains underexplored in scholarly literature. Green steel production focuses on reducing pollutant emissions, lowering costs, and enhancing steel quality compared to conventional methods (Griffin & Hammond, 2021). For instance, the Shougang Jingtang Steel Plant in China emphasizes energy-efficient processes and sustainable waste management in its definition of green steel (Zhang & Xie, 2017).

Technological innovations such as the use of hydrogen in direct reduction processes are paving the way for sustainable steelmaking. This method replaces traditional carbon-based reductants with green hydrogen—produced via water electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources like solar and wind (Kumar, Gupta, & Sharma, 2022). Smith, Andersson, and Bergström (2023) highlight the potential of hydrogen to eliminate nearly all CO₂ emissions in steelmaking, aligning with global decarbonization goals.

Sustainable Steelmaking Practices

In Brazil, sustainable steelmaking often involves using charcoal-based coke (biomass) as a bioreducer, offering advantages like lower sulfur emissions and cleaner byproducts. However, challenges such as mechanical weakness in large blast furnaces remain (Barbosa, Silva, & Teixeira, 2022; Souza & Pacca, 2021). Advanced techniques, including Pulverized Coal Injection (PCI) and improvements in carbonization processes, enhance the application of charcoal in the steel industry (Protásio et al., 2021).

Future Directions and Recommendations

The adoption of green technologies is essential for carbon-neutral steel production (de Oliveira & Teixeira, 2023; Silva, Teixeira, & Brito, 2022; Teixeira & Teixeira, 2022). Recommendations include:

• Supporting research on biomass-based charcoal to replace fossil coal.

• Advancing hydrogen-based steelmaking through pilot projects and infrastructure investment.

• Encouraging multi-institutional collaborations to explore carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies (CGEE, 2010).

Sustainable initiatives like those by Aperam, AVB, and CH2V in Brazil and SSAB in Sweden demonstrate the feasibility of green steelmaking through innovative practices and renewable energy integration (Aperam, 2021; AVB, 2021; CH2V, 2024; SSAB, 2022).

Publications on the Topic of Green Steel

Teixeira, R. L. P. (2025). Assessment of Green Steel Production Technologies: Feasibility, Scalability, and Economic Viability. Revista De Gestão Social E Ambiental, 19(3), e011601. https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v19n3-043

References

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Barbosa, M. O., Silva, P. C. D., & Teixeira, R. L. P. (2022). Aço verde e a sustentabilidade na produção de ferro-gusa. Revista Brasileira de Iniciação Científica, 9(1), e022018. Retrieved from https://periodicoscientificos.itp.ifsp.edu.br/index.php/rbic/article/view/720

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de Oliveira, J. P., & Teixeira, R. L. P. (2023). The Circular Economy: a Case Study Approach Case Study of the Production of Metallized Briquets and Their use in Steel Blast Furnace. Revista De Gestão Social E Ambiental, 17(2), e03351. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v17n2-014

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Li, C. (2024). Current Status and Future Trends of Green Metallurgical Technology. Scientific and Social Research, 6(7), 119-126. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.26689/ssr.v6i7.7598

Muslemani, H., Liang, X., Kaesehage, K., Ascui, F., & Wilson, J. (2021). Opportunities and challenges for decarbonizing steel production by creating markets for ‘green steel’ products. Journal of Cleaner Production, 315, 128127. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128127

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Silva, P. C. D., Teixeira, R. L. P., & Brito, M. L. de A. (2022). Green marketing in cosmetics companies advertising campaigns: An analytical and linguistic approach to the metaphorization of Green. Journal of Social and Environmental Management-RGSA, 16(2), e02996. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v16n2-022

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