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<p>This study evaluates decarbonization pathways for Brazil’s steel industry by comparing four production scenarios: (1) the conventional blast furnace–basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) route powered by coal, (2) BF-BOF using electricity from the Brazilian grid, (3) hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (H-DRI) supplied by a nuclear-renewable hybrid energy system (N-RHES), and (4) H-DRI relying on the Brazilian grid. A case study based on 2-million-metric-ton-per-year steel plant in Ceará State examines each scenario in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and electric arc furnaces are analyzed under a simplified climate impact framework where the units are expressed in CO<sub>2-equivalent</sub> (CO<sub>2e</sub>). Sensitivity analyses assess how coal prices, carbon pricing, small modular reactor (SMR) costs, and electrolyzer efficiency affect the competitiveness of H-DRI. Results show that the BF–BOF route remains highly carbon-intensive, even when partially electrified. H-DRI significantly reduces emissions, particularly when powered by an N–RHES, which achieves the lowest CO<sub>2</sub>e footprint. However, H-DRI using grid electricity still performs better than BF–BOF, though it remains more carbon-intensive than a dedicated hybrid system. Economically, carbon taxes above USD 15 per ton of CO<sub>2</sub>, high coal prices, and continued technological improvements in SMRs and electrolyzer enhance H-DRI competitiveness. This analysis highlights the critical of low-carbon energy in steel decarbonization, offering policy insights for Brazil.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Decarbonizing the steel industry: a case study in Brazil utilizing nuclear-renewable hybrid energy systems for electricity and hydrogen supply

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月5日

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  • Gabrielle S. Santos,
  • Carlos E. Velasquez

摘要

This study evaluates decarbonization pathways for Brazil’s steel industry by comparing four production scenarios: (1) the conventional blast furnace–basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) route powered by coal, (2) BF-BOF using electricity from the Brazilian grid, (3) hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (H-DRI) supplied by a nuclear-renewable hybrid energy system (N-RHES), and (4) H-DRI relying on the Brazilian grid. A case study based on 2-million-metric-ton-per-year steel plant in Ceará State examines each scenario in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and electric arc furnaces are analyzed under a simplified climate impact framework where the units are expressed in CO2-equivalent (CO2e). Sensitivity analyses assess how coal prices, carbon pricing, small modular reactor (SMR) costs, and electrolyzer efficiency affect the competitiveness of H-DRI. Results show that the BF–BOF route remains highly carbon-intensive, even when partially electrified. H-DRI significantly reduces emissions, particularly when powered by an N–RHES, which achieves the lowest CO2e footprint. However, H-DRI using grid electricity still performs better than BF–BOF, though it remains more carbon-intensive than a dedicated hybrid system. Economically, carbon taxes above USD 15 per ton of CO2, high coal prices, and continued technological improvements in SMRs and electrolyzer enhance H-DRI competitiveness. This analysis highlights the critical of low-carbon energy in steel decarbonization, offering policy insights for Brazil.

Graphical Abstract