Key Technologies and Strategic Thinking for the Coal–Coking–Hydrogen–Steel Industry Chain in China

Abstract

Energy resource-consuming industries such as coal, coking, and steel, are crucial for socio-economic development; however, they are also related to high energy consumption and environmental pollution. As carbon peak and carbon neutral goals were porposed, it becomes increasingly urgent to accelerate the revolution of energy production and consumption in China. To this end, we investigate the current status of coal-based hydrogen production technologies and propose a coal–coking–hydrogen–steel industrial chain in this study. The industrial chain is proposed considering the resource endowment, environmental capacity, and industry foundation in China,and it is expected to be green, low-carbon, secure, and highly efficient. Subsequently, we compare and evlatuate five technological paths for this industry chain from the aspects of economy, energy consumption, and carbon emissions, and analyze the potentials and path choices for coupling hydrogen production with direct reduced iron. Moreover, we elaborate the strategic goals and whole layout of the coal–coking–hydrogen–steel industry chain using Shanxi Province as an example. Furthermore, we suggest that a clean and lowcarbon development concept should be established to promote energy transformation in China, an overall development plan should be formulated for the industry chain, and policies, science, technologies, personnels, and market should be further integrated.

Keywords

• direct reduced iron, industry chain, energy transition
• coking, hydrogen energy