Steel Mills
USS Exploring Carbon Capture, Hydrogen to Reduce Emissions
Written by Michael Cowden
June 30, 2021
U.S. Steel is studying the possibilities for deploying carbon capture and storage (CCS) as well as hydrogen-based production as part of its efforts to decarbonize.
The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker is doing so via a non-exclusive memorandum of understanding with a U.S. subsidiary of Norwegian energy company Equinor ASA.
The effort will be centered in the Mon Valley and might run across Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, the company said.
“The successful development of hydrogen and CCS technology in the tri-state region will require investment, cooperation, and exploration across political and perceived barriers,” Richard Fruehauf, U.S. Steel’s chief strategy and sustainability officer, said in a statement.
The study is part of the company’s effort to be “net-zero” in terms of carbon emissions by 2050.
U.S. Steel thinks combining natural gas with CCS could get it a long way toward reaching that goal. Hydrogen and renewable energy are also key to reaching the zero emissions milestone.
Anchoring the project in the Mon Valley is significant because U.S. Steel earlier this year scrapped plans for a $1.3-billion upgrade to its Mon Valley Works in western Pennsylvania.
It is also significant because U.S. Steel is joining a growing number of steelmakers – including Cleveland-Cliffs, SSAB and Algoma – that appear to be paying more than just lip service to the importance of reducing CO2 emissions, a key driver of climate change.
By Michael Cowden, Michael@SteelMarketUpdate.com
Michael Cowden
Read more from Michael CowdenLatest in Steel Mills
Cliffs confirms Cleveland furnace restart, Dearborn furnace idling
Cleveland-Cliffs is idling blast furnace, BOF shop, and continuous caster functions at its Dearborn plant, but downstream operations will remain unaffected, the company confirmed. Cliffs said its pickling line tandeom cold mill (PLTCM) and its extra wide automotive-grade galvanizing line for exposed parts will continue operations at the Dearborn, Michigan-based facility.
Nucor spot HR list price unchanged at $900/ton
Nucor maintained its weekly list price for hot-rolled (HR) coil flat this week, following a price cut the previous week.
Despite trade chaos, Barry Schneider upbeat on SDI, steel
With 30 years of experience at Steel Dynamics, Barry Schneider reflects on the company and the state of the steel industry.
Algoma Steel seeks CAD$500M in operational support
Algoma Steel applied to Canada’s federal Large Enterprise Tariff Loan (LETL) program for $500 million to support its long-term operations.
SDI concerned with potential Brazil pig iron tariffs
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) executives called a 50% tariff on Brazilian pig iron “concerning,” but think tariffs will be a “mainstay” of trade agreements going forward.