Workshop: Green H2 and circular bio-coal from biowaste for cost-competitive sustainable steel

The decarbonisation of the steel sector is a central priority in achieving the EU Green Deal targets. One promising pathway involves replacing fossil coal with biobased alternatives—particularly biocoal derived from bio-waste. While woody biomass has shown potential, its use is constrained by high costs and limited feedstock availability. In contrast, converting waste into high value biocoal supports both climate goals and the EU’s vision for a circular economy.

However, challenges remain: to be suitable for use in steelmaking, bio-waste-based biocoal must meet stringent quality criteria, including low ash content and reduced levels of harmful elements such as phosphorus, potassium and sulphur. Interestingly, some of these elements—while undesirable in the steel sector—are highly valuable in agriculture, opening the door to innovative recovery and reuse strategies.

In the framework of the H2STEEL project, partners have developed and demonstrated advanced processes to upgrade the quality of biocoal obtained through bio-waste pyrolysis. These include chemical treatments and phosphorus recovery, enabling the dual use of biocoal as a reducing agent for steelmaking and a source of nutrient-rich fertilisers.