Steel Industry a Leader in Energy Efficiency
12/14/2009 - The U.S. steel industry has reduced its energy intensity per ton of steel shipped by about 31% from 1990 to 2008, reports the American Iron and Steel Institute. This figure is down slightly from 33% in 2007 due to a large drop off in production starting in 4Q 2008.
The United States steel industry has reduced its energy intensity per ton of steel shipped by approximately 31% from 1990 to 2008, reports the American Iron and Steel Institute. This figure is down slightly from 33% in 2007, according to AISI, due to a large drop off in production starting in the fourth quarter of 2008.
”With processes as tightly controlled as those in steel mills, production disruptions and repeated startup and shutdowns significantly impact energy performance,” said Thomas J. Gibson, AISI President and CEO.
“This steel industry’s overall improvement in energy efficiency demonstrates its longstanding commitment to sustainability,” Gibson continued. “This commitment has brought our processes almost to the limit of energy efficiency and the sensitivity to production intensity further underscores this point. In the long term, we are working on developing breakthrough steelmaking processes that emit little or no CO2.”
On average, 1.19 tons of CO2 was emitted in 2008 for every ton of steel produced in the United States, according to AISI. The Institute notes that the low CO2 intensity of American-manufactured steel as well as its infinite recyclability is why steel products have such low environmental impacts during their life cycle.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. The Institute comprises 24 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 138 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.
