“Green steel” that is manufactured using hydrogen generated with renewable energy makes its use as a building material more feasible for environmentally conscious designers and clients.
Sustainable manufacturing processes, which are economically viable in the U.S., could also revive steelmaking in the country as the metal becomes more attractive for green building. In addition, faster adoption of green steel could be fueled by communities competing for new plants and the new jobs that come with them, making them more attractive to build for steel manufacturing companies.
“A transition to fossil fuel-free steelmaking could grow total jobs supported by steelmaking in the region by 27% to 43% by 2031, forestalling projected job losses,” according to a study by the Ohio River Valley Institute. “Regional jobs supported by traditional steelmaking are expected to fall by 30% in the same period.”
The traditional steelmaking process using coal generates 7.2% of all carbon emissions worldwide, making the industry alone more polluting than the entire European Union, according to one estimate.
A modern, greener method of producing steel works like this: Iron ore is melted in an electric arc furnace using hydrogen, rather than coke, to process the material. This requires less energy than traditional methods, and renewable energy could power the furnace and generate hydrogen, making the process environmentally sound.
Developmental projects in Europe are experimenting with biochar, electrolysis, and other ways to power the electric arc process. In the U.S., one company is experimenting with an oxide electrolysis model that eliminates the need for coal by creating a chemical reaction that turns iron ore into steel.
Any of these greener steelmaking methods could help make the metal a sound choice for meeting sustainability standards and goals.
Related Stories
Steel Buildings | Feb 21, 2023
AISC releases SpeedCore design guide for building concrete-filled composite steel plate shear wall core systems
The American Institute of Steel Construction has released Design Guide 38, SpeedCore Systems for Steel Structures. The document pertains to the nonproprietary concrete-filled composite steel plate shear wall core system that “shaved a whopping 10 months off the erection schedule of Seattle’s 58-story Rainier Square,” according to AISC.
Steel Buildings | Feb 3, 2023
Top 10 structural steel building projects for 2023
A Mies van der Rohe-designed art and architecture school at Indiana University and Morphosis Architects' Orange County Museum of Art in Costa Mesa, Calif., are among 10 projects to win IDEAS² Awards from the American Institute of Steel Construction.
Steel Buildings | Dec 6, 2022
2022 AISC Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges released
The American Institute of Steel Construction recently released an updated revision of one of its flagship standards, the Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges (ANSI/AISC 303-22). The code was last updated in 2016. The latest version is available as a free download at aisc.org/2022code.
University Buildings | Dec 5, 2022
Florida Polytechnic University unveils its Applied Research Center, furthering its mission to provide STEM education
In Lakeland, Fla., located between Orlando and Tampa, Florida Polytechnic University unveiled its new Applied Research Center (ARC). Designed by HOK and built by Skanska, the 90,000-sf academic building houses research and teaching laboratories, student design spaces, conference rooms, and faculty offices—furthering the school’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) mission.
75 Top Building Products | Nov 30, 2022
75 top building products for 2022
Each year, the Building Design+Construction editorial team evaluates the vast universe of new and updated products, materials, and systems for the U.S. building design and construction market. The best-of-the-best products make up our annual 75 Top Products report.
Sponsored | Steel Buildings | Nov 7, 2022
Steel structures offer faster path to climate benefits
Faster delivery of buildings isn’t always associated with sustainability benefits or long-term value, but things are changing. An instructive case is in the development of steel structures that not only allow speedier erection times, but also can reduce embodied carbon and create durable, highly resilient building approaches.
Building Materials | Nov 2, 2022
Design for Freedom: Ending slavery and child labor in the global building materials sector
Sharon Prince, Founder and CEO of Grace Farms and Design for Freedom, discusses DFF's report on slavery and enforced child labor in building products and materials.
Building Materials | Aug 3, 2022
Shawmut CEO Les Hiscoe on coping with a shaky supply chain in construction
BD+C's John Caulfield interviews Les Hiscoe, CEO of Shawmut Design and Construction, about how his firm keeps projects on schedule and budget in the face of shortages, delays, and price volatility.
Building Materials | Jun 20, 2022
Early-stage procurement: The next evolution of the construction supply chain
Austin Commercial’s Jason Earnhardt explains why supply chain issues for the construction industry are not going to go away and how developers and owners can get ahead of project roadblocks.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | May 10, 2022
Designing smarter places of learning
This course explains the how structural steel building systems are suited to construction of education facilities.