(513h) A Life Cycle Assessment of Electrified Steelmaking Via Rotary Hearth Furnace–Based DRI and Electric Arc Furnace in South Korea

Global efforts to reduce carbon emissions have made the decarbonization of energy-intensive industries a critical priority. In South Korea, the steel industry is a major contributor to carbon emissions, facing stringent global regulations such as the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the US Clean Competition Act (CCA).

This work investigates the potential of electrifying the steel-making process to reduce carbon emissions in Korean steel production by varying both the electricity supply and the raw material composition used in the electric arc furnace (EAF). The electrification process consists of the direct reduction of iron (DRI) process, which utilizes iron dust from furnaces to avoid the conventional practice of landfilling, coupled with EAF technology. MATLAB-based mathematical models were developed to simulate iron and steel-making furnaces, thereby providing the mass and energy balances required for a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). In response to CBAM regulations, the EF 3.1 Method was employed to conduct a climate change-focused analysis within the LCA. The results demonstrate that the effectiveness of electrification in reducing carbon emissions is strongly dependent on the availability of zero-carbon electricity and improvements in grid decarbonization. The findings underscore the necessity of integrated industrial and energy policies to enable a low-carbon transition, thereby enhancing both environmental sustainability and industrial competitiveness in response to evolving global carbon trading regulations.