You can make steel with water. As far as I know, that process is still not economically viable (too expensive), but it will never be if we don’t fund it. Solar energy used to be expensive as well.
Carbon steel is very much needed in a lot of places. It is harder than mild steel and is used in axles, gears, cutting tools etc.
SSAB HYBRIT technology replaces the usage of coal/coke in the iron reduction stage with hydrogen which is nice since it only produces water and not CO2.
But I can’t find any information regarding the carbon content of the resulting sponge iron. If the carbon content is too low you still need to add elemental carbon in some form.
The resulting sponge iron is 0% carbon meaning you need to add carbon in some form. The broschure mentions the use of either biocarbon or a small amount of natural gas. So no need for coal. Neat. :)
I would need to smell the smoke from the biofueled steam locomotives to determine if it is better or not.
Regarding carbon steel, I am a Swede, I have seen the (quite sexy) ads for carbonfree steel, that is super cool and if it becomes a viable alternative to actual carbon steel, I am all for it.
Because anti-woke pandering.
That and also pandering to coal miners.
Here is my suggestion instead.
Stop using coal for pure power, it is way better used in heritage steam locomotives and steelmaking.
Fixed it for you. There’s no necessary use for burning coal that doesn’t have a better alternative.
Steam locomotives does not have a better alternative, it is part of the historical experience.
There are also relatively few steam locomotives in use world wide, their impact is quite limited.
Also to make carbon steel, you need to use coal.
You can make steel with water. As far as I know, that process is still not economically viable (too expensive), but it will never be if we don’t fund it. Solar energy used to be expensive as well.
Awesome, more coal for heritage rail!
That’s just not true
That also makes it easier to replace the fuel in all of them.
Sure, to make CARBON steel, you obviously need carbon. However, you do NOT need to make carbon steel since alternatives DO exist.
TL; DR: Your “coal is necessary for anything” conclusion is decades behind modern technology.
You should probably get with the times, lest you become a fossil yourself 😉
Carbon steel is very much needed in a lot of places. It is harder than mild steel and is used in axles, gears, cutting tools etc.
SSAB HYBRIT technology replaces the usage of coal/coke in the iron reduction stage with hydrogen which is nice since it only produces water and not CO2. But I can’t find any information regarding the carbon content of the resulting sponge iron. If the carbon content is too low you still need to add elemental carbon in some form.
Edit: https://www.hybritdevelopment.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/hybrit-broschure-fossil-free-steel-production-ready-for-industrialisation.pdf
Found all the answers I was looking for. :)
The resulting sponge iron is 0% carbon meaning you need to add carbon in some form. The broschure mentions the use of either biocarbon or a small amount of natural gas. So no need for coal. Neat. :)
I would need to smell the smoke from the biofueled steam locomotives to determine if it is better or not.
Regarding carbon steel, I am a Swede, I have seen the (quite sexy) ads for carbonfree steel, that is super cool and if it becomes a viable alternative to actual carbon steel, I am all for it.