Manufacture of Iron and Steel
Production of hot metal, pig iron, crude steel, and steel products via blast furnace or electric arc furnace routes with specific emission thresholds.
Substantial Contribution to Climate Change Mitigation
For integrated steelmaking (blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace route), the specific GHG emissions must not exceed 1.331 tCO2e per tonne of hot metal (EU ETS benchmark for hot metal). For electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking, the specific emissions must not exceed 0.209 tCO2e per tonne of EAF carbon steel or 0.266 tCO2e per tonne of EAF high alloy steel. These benchmarks are based on the top 10% most efficient installations in the EU ETS.
Emissions are calculated following the EU ETS Monitoring and Reporting Regulation, covering direct process emissions from reduction, combustion, and calcination, plus indirect emissions from electricity and heat consumption. Where hydrogen-based direct reduction (H2-DRI) is used, lifecycle emissions from hydrogen production must be included. The emerging H2-DRI-EAF route can substantially outperform the benchmarks when using green hydrogen.
BAT as defined in the Iron and Steel Production BREF (2012) must be applied, including top gas recovery, waste heat recovery from slag and exhaust gases, and process gas utilisation for on-site power generation.
Substantial Contribution to Climate Change Adaptation
A CRVA must be performed per Appendix A, assessing risks to the steel plant from physical climate hazards under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios.
DNSH: Climate Change Adaptation
Physical climate risks must be assessed and mitigated, particularly water scarcity for cooling, extreme heat effects on blast furnace and coke oven operations, and flooding risks to raw material yards and slag pits.
DNSH: Water and Marine Resources
The activity must comply with the Water Framework Directive. Cooling water, process water, and stormwater discharge must meet BAT-AELs from the Iron and Steel BREF. Continuous wastewater monitoring is required for cyanide, heavy metals, suspended solids, and hydrocarbons.
DNSH: Circular Economy
Blast furnace slag must be granulated for use in cement production. Steel slag, dust, and sludge must be recycled where technically feasible. Scrap steel input ratios must be maximised within product quality constraints. By-product gases must be recovered and used for energy generation.
DNSH: Pollution Prevention and Control
The activity must comply with the Industrial Emissions Directive and Iron and Steel BREF. Dust emissions from sinter plants must not exceed 1-5 mg/Nm3 (after dedusting). NOx from coke ovens must remain below 500 mg/Nm3. SOx from sinter strands must be below 100 mg/Nm3. PCDD/F emissions must remain below 0.05-0.1 ng I-TEQ/Nm3.