Steel and aluminium
Net Zero Emissions Guide
This report is part of Net Zero Roadmap: A Global Pathway to Keep the 1.5 °C Goal in Reach
About this report
This 2023 update to our Net Zero Roadmap surveys the complex and dynamic energy landscape and sets out an updated pathway to net zero by 2050, taking account of the key developments that have occurred since 2021.
6% (Steel) and 1% (Aluminium) of cumulative emissions reductions
Steel and aluminium
Emissions reductions by mitigation measure
| Milestones | 2022 | 2030 | 2035 | 2050 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel | ||||
| Crude steel production (Mt) | 1 880 | 1 970 | 1 970 | 1 960 |
| Share of scrap in metallic inputs | 33% | 38% | 40% | 48% |
| Share of near zero emission iron production | 0% | 8% | 27% | 95% |
| CCUS-equipped | 0% | 3% | 10% | 37% |
| Electrolytic hydrogen-based | 0% | 5% | 15% | 44% |
| Iron ore electrolysis | 0% | 0% | 2% | 14% |
| CO2 captured (Mt CO2) | 1 | 27 | 131 | 399 |
| Low-emissions hydrogen demand (Mt) | 0 | 6 | 17 | 41 |
| Aluminium | ||||
| Aluminium production (Mt) | 108 | 120 | 128 | 146 |
| Share of secondary production | 36% | 42% | 44% | 56% |
| Share of near zero emission primary aluminium production | 0% | 7% | 19% | 96% |
| Share of low-emissions thermal energy in alumina production | 0% | 16% | 39% | 99% |
Announced projects meet 12% of 2030 near zero emission iron production needs; ‘capable’ capacity needs clear decarbonisation plans
Emissions intensities drastically improve and scrap metal use increases
Other processes shifts include process emissions reductions from increased scrap-based and inert anode production.
Aluminium production and share of secondary production excludes production based on internally generated scrap.
Near zero emission = projects that, once operational, are near zero emission from the start, according to the definitions in IEA (2022c) Achieving Net Zero Heavy Industry Sectors in G7 Members. Near zero emission capable = projects that achieve substantial emissions reductions from the start – but fall short of near zero emissions initially – with plans to continue reducing emissions over time such that they could later achieve near zero emission production without additional capital investment. Production from announced projects shown in the dashboard excludes near zero emission steel from scrap.