India’s carbon neutral aim hinges on top emitters using hydrogen
India’s steel mills, the second-largest producers globally, expect hydrogen-based production to be key to cutting pollution as the nation comes under pressure to zero out greenhouse gas emissions.
As the world’s third-biggest emitter, India is expected to boost its commitment to slow global warming ahead of climate talks in Scotland this year. Officials close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi are working with senior bureaucrats and foreign advisers to consider ways to meet the 2050 deadline, according to people familiar with the matter.
Top steelmaker China — the biggest polluter — has already set a 2060 net-zero target, while Japan aims to reach that goal by 2050. India’s push to cut emissions will depend heavily on the steel sector, which is the biggest carbon dioxide emitter among its industries.
“If we want to expand to meet the growing requirements to build our economy, we have to be efficient until hydrogen-based technology becomes available and in the meantime use renewable energy for reducing fossil fuel-based power,” said Seshagiri Rao, joint managing director at JSW Steel Ltd. The benefits to productivity and the quality of steel will compensate for the extra costs on the greener technology, he said.
Turning to Hydrogen
Globally, steelmakers are turning to hydrogen as a replacement for coal in their processes to refine iron ore and mills would need to be powered by hydrogen produced from renewable electricity in order to hit zero emissions.
