The steelmaking & greater metallurgical industries are essential & foundational sectors to our economy, offering long-lasting and sparingly replaceable products.

However, did you know the steel industry alone accounts for around 5% of CO₂ emissions in the EU, and 7% of global emissions? The sector is on its path to defossilization; unfortunately, there are very limited and sometimes nonexistent options to reduce or remove carbon-based emissions from steelmaking and other metallurgical processes. Simply put, metallurgy needs carbon.

Biochar derived from biomass residues offers a renewable, biogenic source of carbon that supports a shift towards a more sustainable and circular economy and represents the first step towards a phasing out of fossil resources. Research is already underway investigating how to best utilize various forms of biocarbon in metallurgical processes. 

This position paper highlights suitable applications and use-benefits of biochar and biochar production, predominantly in the steelmaking industry. It addresses why biochar should be looked upon as a solution to meet the needs of the metallurgical industry and provides insight into the challenges and opportunities ahead.  

Biochar Europe is working collaboratively with the metallurgical industry to address the challenges we face integrating biochar into metallurgic value chains.