Sustainability Potential Analysis of Decarbonization Measures in the Steel Industry

Abstract

　With the aim to assess the sustainability of decarbonization measures in the steel industry in Japan, this study estimates the direct and indirect environmental load using the environmental sustainability indicators（Total Material Requirement, Ecological Footprint, CO₂, Chemical Footprint）by for two scenarios in 2030. Results show that in scenario 1 and 2 the sustainability the environmental load of each indicator can be reduced. Assuming that the renewable energy ratio rises from 18.5％ in 2019 to 37.0％ in 2030 in Scenario 2, thermal power generation using fossil fuels decreases and each indicators also decreases. Clearly, the environmental sustainability indicators can be reduced by increasing the renewable energy ratio against the increase in power consumption accompanying the expansion of the share of electric furnace.