A national initiative to make the production of steel in Australia greener and more sustainable has been launched at Monash University with the establishment of a new research hub.
The ARC Research Hub for Smart Process Design and Control brings together researchers from multiple national universities alongside industry partners such as Rio Tinto and Baowu Steel to develop smarter, low-emission steelmaking processes.
Research is also intended to support the long-term resilience and competitiveness of Australia’s iron ore industry.
Steel production is a critical part of Australia’s economy, with iron exports accounting for approximately 18–20 per cent of national export income – but also contributing to around eight per cent of the world’s CO2 emissions.
It’s this, hub director Sankar Bhattacharya said, that underpins research going forward.
“This hub will create smarter, cleaner and more efficient steelmaking processes. By combining simulation, AI and industrial testing we can transform one of the world’s most critical industries to use diverse Australian ore while keeping Australia at the forefront of sustainable innovation.”
“Collaboration between universities and industry can tackle one of the most urgent climate challenges while keeping Australia – and Australian iron ore – competitive in global markets,” he said.
The ultimate aim of the hub is to transform mineral and metallurgical industries through advanced computational modelling, artificial intelligence and low-carbon process innovation.
Focus on sustainable practice and low-carbon operating methods come in the wake of the Federal Government’s 2035 emission reduction target, which outlines emissions need to be reduced by around 62–70 per cent below 2005 levels.
The development of green steel has been widely reported, with Rio Tinto agreeing to the supply of 70 per cent of iron ore for a new hydrogen-based steelmaking plant in Austria, as well as the Western Australian Government highlighting green steel will be at the cornerstone of its upcoming infrastructure projects state-wide.
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