IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i10p4250-d1397084.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Scrap Steel Recycling: A Carbon Emission Reduction Index for China

Author

Listed:
  • Hao Hao

    (College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai 201209, China)

  • Haolong Wu

    (College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai 201209, China)

  • Fangfang Wei

    (College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai 201209, China)

  • Zhaoran Xu

    (College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai 201209, China)

  • Yi Xu

    (College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai 201209, China)

Abstract

Accurately assessing carbon emissions from recycling scrap steel is essential for reducing emissions in the steel industry, especially in China, the world’s largest crude steel producer. In this study, a carbon emission reduction index was introduced to evaluate the effectiveness of recycling scrap steel in reducing emissions. The index considers the three processes used in scrap steel recycling: blast furnace ironmaking, converter steelmaking, and electric arc furnace steelmaking. This study developed an evaluation model using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and iterative cluster analysis to determine the reduction of carbon emission. From a life cycle perspective, this study identified primary factors contributing to emissions, including fuel, raw materials, electric energy, and auxiliary materials. Then, the carbon emission reduction index for scrap recycling was developed by examining the production of one ton of steel and each additional ton of scrap steel, which can provide valuable insights into the environmental impact of scrap recycling. Finally, the study forecasts the future Carbon Emission Reduction Index for steel scrap recycling. The study indicates an increase in the carbon emission reduction index for scrap recycling prior to 2017, followed by a decrease about 11.8% from 2017 to 2018 and increases from 2018 to 2021. Finally, it dropped by 8.7% per cent in 2022. Similarly, the carbon emission reduction index for electric furnace steelmaking increased prior to 2019, then subsequently decreased. It is changing by ten per cent a year. Additionally, the scrap recycling index experienced a significant decrease of 90% in 2015, followed by a gradual increase until 2017 and then a consistent decrease every year thereafter. The index suddenly rose in 2021 and then decreased change for policy reasons. The forecast results suggest a gradual increase in the carbon emission reduction index per ton of steel scrap in the future. In conclusion, the practicable modeling methodology has the ability to assist government organizations and private enterprises in devising efficient green and low-carbon development tactics.

Suggested Citation

  • Hao Hao & Haolong Wu & Fangfang Wei & Zhaoran Xu & Yi Xu, 2024. "Scrap Steel Recycling: A Carbon Emission Reduction Index for China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:10:p:4250-:d:1397084
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/10/4250/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/10/4250/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ruobin Gao & Jiahui Liu & Liang Du & Kum Fai Yuen, 2022. "Shipping market forecasting by forecast combination mechanism," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(8), pages 1059-1074, November.
    2. Qiang Yue & Xicui Chai & Yujie Zhang & Qi Wang & Heming Wang & Feng Zhao & Wei Ji & Yuqi Lu, 2023. "Analysis of iron and steel production paths on the energy demand and carbon emission in China’s iron and steel industry," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(5), pages 4065-4085, May.
    3. Hao Hao & Wenxian Xu & Fangfang Wei & Chuanliang Wu & Zhaoran Xu, 2022. "Reward–Penalty vs. Deposit–Refund: Government Incentive Mechanisms for EV Battery Recycling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Xuan, Yanni & Yue, Qiang, 2016. "Forecast of steel demand and the availability of depreciated steel scrap in China," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 1-12.
    5. Chen, Wenying & Yin, Xiang & Ma, Ding, 2014. "A bottom-up analysis of China’s iron and steel industrial energy consumption and CO2 emissions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 1174-1183.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xuan, Yanni & Yue, Qiang, 2017. "Scenario analysis on resource and environmental benefits of imported steel scrap for China’s steel industry," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 186-198.
    2. Li, Yibo & Li, Juan & Sun, Mei & Guo, Yanzi & Cheng, Faxin & Gao, Cuixia, 2024. "Analysis of carbon neutrality technology path selection in the steel industry under policy incentives," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    3. Dehghan, Hamed & Amin-Naseri, Mohammad Reza & Nahavandi, Nasim, 2021. "A system dynamics model to analyze future electricity supply and demand in Iran under alternative pricing policies," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    4. Matino, Ismael & Dettori, Stefano & Colla, Valentina & Weber, Valentine & Salame, Sahar, 2019. "Forecasting blast furnace gas production and demand through echo state neural network-based models: Pave the way to off-gas optimized management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    5. Yang, Honghua & Ma, Linwei & Li, Zheng, 2023. "Tracing China's steel use from steel flows in the production system to steel footprints in the consumption system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    6. Yong Bian & Zhi Yu & Xuelan Zeng & Jingchun Feng & Chao He, 2018. "Achieving China’s Long-Term Carbon Emission Abatement Targets: A Perspective from Regional Disparity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, November.
    7. Yuancheng Lin & Honghua Yang & Linwei Ma & Zheng Li & Weidou Ni, 2021. "Low-Carbon Development for the Iron and Steel Industry in China and the World: Status Quo, Future Vision, and Key Actions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-28, November.
    8. An, Runying & Yu, Biying & Li, Ru & Wei, Yi-Ming, 2018. "Potential of energy savings and CO2 emission reduction in China’s iron and steel industry," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 862-880.
    9. Hosain, Md Lokman & Bel Fdhila, Rebei & Daneryd, Anders, 2016. "Heat transfer by liquid jets impinging on a hot flat surface," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 934-943.
    10. Song, Weiming & Zhou, Jianan & Li, Yujie & Yang, Jian & Cheng, Rijin, 2021. "New technology for producing high-quality combustible gas by high-temperature reaction of dust-removal coke powder in mixed atmosphere," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    11. Zetterholm, J. & Ji, X. & Sundelin, B. & Martin, P.M. & Wang, C., 2017. "Dynamic modelling for the hot blast stove," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 2142-2150.
    12. Gauffin, Alicia & Andersson, Nils Å.I. & Storm, Per & Tilliander, Anders & Jönsson, Pär G., 2017. "Time-varying losses in material flows of steel using dynamic material flow models," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 70-83.
    13. Li, Nan & Ma, Ding & Chen, Wenying, 2017. "Quantifying the impacts of decarbonisation in China’s cement sector: A perspective from an integrated assessment approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1840-1848.
    14. Li, Danyang & Chen, Wenying, 2019. "TIMES modeling of the large-scale popularization of electric vehicles under the worldwide prohibition of liquid vehicle sales," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    15. Zhao, Hongyan & Zhang, Qiang & Huo, Hong & Lin, Jintai & Liu, Zhu & Wang, Haikun & Guan, Dabo & He, Kebin, 2016. "Environment-economy tradeoff for Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei’s exports," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 926-935.
    16. Shao, Tianming & Pan, Xunzhang & Li, Xiang & Zhou, Sheng & Zhang, Shu & Chen, Wenying, 2022. "China's industrial decarbonization in the context of carbon neutrality: A sub-sectoral analysis based on integrated modelling," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    17. Yue, Xiufeng & Deane, J.P. & O'Gallachoir, Brian & Rogan, Fionn, 2020. "Identifying decarbonisation opportunities using marginal abatement cost curves and energy system scenario ensembles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    18. Sun, Liang & Chen, Wenying, 2017. "Development and application of a multi-stage CCUS source–sink matching model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1424-1432.
    19. Feng, Chao & Huang, Jian-Bai & Wang, Miao, 2019. "The sustainability of China’s metal industries: features, challenges and future focuses," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 215-224.
    20. Tan, Ruipeng & Lin, Boqiang, 2018. "What factors lead to the decline of energy intensity in China's energy intensive industries?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 213-221.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:10:p:4250-:d:1397084. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.