Is the world on the verge of going bonkers? Or are we really contemplating the notion of turning the steel industry on its head with the commitment to pursuing carbon innovation?
Since three quarters of the world steel production uses the traditional method of burning coal – we may not see dramatic shifts immediately. Thanks to ArcelorMittal, the second largest steelmaker on the planet a $120 million dollar investment in Boston Metal, a pilot plant based in Woburn Massachusetts is going to benefit quickly with this downstroke using renewable electricity to convert iron ore into steel.
Instead of burning coal – electricity is run through a cell the size of a school bus that seperates the iron from the oxide..this new technology allows for the recovery of metals within the slag to be retrieved and processed, an added bonus!
This groundbreaking technology was developed at MIT by Donald Sadoway and Antoine Allanore. We can take great pride in knowing a fellow Canadian, Donald Sadoway born in Toronto, Ontario and who studied at the University of Toronto is garnering worldwide recognition for helping to design decarbonizing steel production at scale.
ArcelorMittal and Microsoft’s investment together will help launch commercial production in Brazil sooner than anyone could ever imagine.
Stay tuned for more updates on industry alliances cooperating to clean up steel in an effort to go green!