WHAT IS GREEN STEEL?
Green steel is made without fossil fuels.
Primary Steel
The process of producing primary steel, which is currently essential for high-strength automotive steel, relies heavily on coal. By switching to new technologies powered by renewable energy, this process can be decarbonized, slashing supply chain emissions while improving local air quality.
Secondary Steel
Secondary steel, which can be used for components without industry-specified requirements, is made by recycling scrap steel. This can be a near-zero-emissions process if it is powered by renewable electricity, but there’s not enough steel scrap available today to meet the growing demands of the auto industry.
The green steel future is reliant on establishing the first primary steel facility in North America.
STEEL IS A GLOBAL POLLUTION PROBLEM
Steelmaking today comprises 7% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The energy used in steelmaking skews towards the dirtiest forms of fossil fuel — In fact, 75% of the world's steel is created with coal.
Primary steel, which is essential for high-strength components in cars and trucks made today, accounts for 90% of the sector’s emissions.
U.S.-based primary steelmakers such as Cleveland-Cliffs and U.S. Steel can upgrade their facilities and invest in clean energy technologies such as green hydrogen to dramatically reduce emissions from this essential supply chain material — but in order to make sure these investments are made, automakers must act now to demand green steel. Automakers in the EU are already driving this demand. U.S. auto companies must act now or they'll fall behind.
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