While it’s true European car makers are starting to use steel made by using hydrogen rather than from blast furnaces, why is it Eco-friendly?
And why would the WSJ promote the concept of Eco-Friendly when CO2 emissions are eliminated?
It would indicate the editors of the WSJ support the implementation of net-zero carbon policies to eliminate CO2 emissions.
Eliminating CO2 is no more environmentally friendly than eliminating oxygen.
Both are essential to life on Earth.
And what about hydrogen?
Hydrogen has to be separated from the compound to which it is attached: Water for example.
This requires large quantities of electricity when using electrolysis, the proposed method for obtaining hydrogen from water.
There is less energy available from the hydrogen produced from electrolysis than from the electricity used to produce the hydrogen.
Obtaining hydrogen is an energy loser.
Why would that be Eco-friendly?
The direct reduction of iron (DRI) is the process for making steel using hydrogen.
This increases the cost of producing steel by anywhere from 20% to 60% according to the WSJ article on this subject.
The Swedish steel maker SSAB, with its HYBRIT process, said it will use hydropower for the electricity used to produce the hydrogen which will keep costs down to a 20% increase.
ArcelorMittal SA and Tysons Krupp have said it will increase the cost of making steel by 40% To 60%.
Schematic of HYBRIT Process from; Summary of findings from HYBRIT Pre-Feasibility Study:
DRI-H steel will add at least $2,000 to the cost of a BEV, which already costs between $10,000 and $15,000 more than a vehicle using an internal combustion engine.
Every kitchen appliance will cost more, as will trucks, locomotives, and freight cars.
These last-mentioned items will result in an increase in transportation costs which will further increase the cost of everything from food to furniture.
In nearly every instance, net-zero carbon policies increase costs and reduces reliability or quality, while in a few instances, such as DRI-H steel, they only increase costs.
It’s difficult to identify any net-zero policy that improves anything."