KEY POINTS
- BHP and JSW Steel collaborate on modular carbon capture technology.
- CycloneCC aims to capture 100,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
- The project aligns with India’s net-zero emissions target for 2070.
In an effort to decarbonize the steelmaking process, especially in India, BHP and JSW Steel are working together to hasten the deployment of modular carbon capture technology created by UK-based Carbon Clean.
This initiative is in line with India’s objective to achieve net-zero by 2070, as the country is the world’s second-largest producer of steel.
Partnership to deploy carbon capture technology
The businesses will evaluate the viability of Carbon Clean’s CycloneCC technology as part of the joint study agreement. The system is the greatest use of CycloneCC in steel production to date, with the potential to capture up to 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year if it is effective.
In order to cut expenses and limit the equipment footprint, the technique uses a rotating packed bed design in conjunction with the exclusive APBS-CDRMax solvent.
The businesses acknowledge that carbon capture technology is still crucial for decarbonizing industrial sectors in spite of a number of obstacles, including high capital and operating costs. According to Mining.com, CycloneCC’s modular design has the benefit of requiring 50 percent less space and costing less to install.
Targeting emission eeductions and future adoption
The project will assess the viability of full-scale deployment at JSW Steel’s Vijayanagar facility in Karnataka and is expected to be finished by 2026. If put into practice, the captured CO2 will be liquefied and sold locally, supporting a larger initiative to lower the intensity of emissions in India’s steel sector.
BHP’s chief commercial officer, Rag Udd, stated, “We are actively researching various avenues for steel decarbonization, but we acknowledge the blast furnace route will remain relevant for steel production in India.”
According to Jayant Acharya, CEO of JSW Steel, the company has already reduced its carbon intensity by 30 percent from its baseline in 2005.
The corporation wants to attain net-zero emissions by 2050 and a carbon intensity of 1.95 tons of CO2 per tonne of steel by 2030.
Decarbonization challenges in the steel industry
While companies such as JSW and BHP are concentrating on creative solutions, the steel sector still has trouble incorporating new technology into its current infrastructure.
The CycloneCC project is a crucial step in increasing carbon capture and reaching almost zero emissions in steelmaking and other challenging industrial processes.
The partnership demonstrates how carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology is gaining traction in energy-intensive sectors. It sets a standard for other international steel producers and is consistent with India’s broader sustainability objectives.
