Holistic Perspective on Biochar Supply for Fossil-Free Steel

Luleå University of Technology is participating in the development towards a fossil-free steel industry. In a sub-project within FINAST, the conditions for supplying biochar from the forest industry’s residual products as a substitute for fossil coal in steel production are being explored.

The sub-project within FINAST aims to gain a broader understanding of how biochar can be cost-effectively produced and delivered for steel manufacturing.

– An important question is where biochar production should be located – where the raw material is available or where the biochar will be used? Should the production facility be entirely independent, or are there advantages to integrating the process into existing industries? If so, is a steel mill or the forest industry better suited for this? says Joakim Lundgren, professor of energy technology at Luleå University of Technology and leader of the sub-project.

PhD student Jim Allansson at the Department of Energy Science is developing modeling tools to optimize logistics, evaluate integration opportunities, and calculate costs to create a sustainable supply chain.

With increasing competition for renewable resources, it is also important to understand the potential effects on the existing market for forest biomass.

– Our goal is not only to solve technical challenges but also to create a comprehensive view of biochar supply for steel production, concludes Joakim Lundgren.

FINAST consists of a total of 11 sub-projects within two work packages, aimed at enabling a fossil-free steel industry while strengthening Sweden’s global competitiveness.