New Delhi, Mar 13: In a major breakthrough for industrial decarbonisation, researchers have successfully demonstrated a world-first approach to reduce emissions in steel production by partially replacing coal with agricultural waste. The trial marks an important step toward producing low-carbon or “green” steel while utilising India’s abundant crop residue.
The study was led by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, in collaboration with researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The project validated the use of biomass derived from rice husk pellets to generate biomass-based syngas for iron ore reduction at commercial scale.
The trial was conducted in partnership with RESCONS Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and at the facilities of Jindal Steel in Odisha. Researchers successfully blended 5% and 10% rice husk pellets into the plant’s gasifiers and achieved sustained syngas production without affecting operational performance.
Steel production is among the world’s most carbon-intensive industries, responsible for nearly 10% of global carbon emissions. India’s rapidly expanding steel sector presents both an opportunity and a challenge. The country’s steel capacity is expected to grow to 300 million tonnes by 2030 and 500 million tonnes by 2047, but current production methods rely heavily on coal, resulting in emissions of about 2.55 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of steel—higher than the global average.
The initiative aligns with India’s broader climate ambitions, as the government aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. As part of this strategy, the Ministry of Steel is promoting several decarbonisation pathways, including electric arc furnaces, increased scrap usage, carbon capture, green hydrogen, and biomass-based energy solutions.
The research was supported through the India–Australia Green Steel Research Partnership, funded by the Australian Government. By converting agricultural residues such as rice husks into fuel for steelmaking, the initiative also addresses the challenge of managing crop waste while supporting sustainable industrial practices.
According to the research team, if biomass-based processes are widely adopted across India’s steel industry, emissions from the sector could potentially be reduced by up to 50%, equivalent to nearly 357 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.
To accelerate adoption, the research collaboration has also developed an interactive digital map showing India’s steelmaking facilities alongside regional biomass availability. This tool enables industry stakeholders to evaluate supply chains and identify opportunities for integrating biomass-based energy solutions into steel production.
The successful trial highlights the potential of combining scientific innovation, international collaboration, and sustainable resource utilisation to transform one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries, bringing the global steel sector closer to achieving large-scale green steel production.
