The steel industry is responsible for producing about 11% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, making it one of the largest industrial polluters globally. However, a new breakthrough from Boston Metal may change that by offering a way to produce steel without relying on coke, the coal-based fuel traditionally used in steelmaking.
Boston Metal, initially developed at MIT, has successfully demonstrated its Molten Oxide Electrolysis (MOE) industrial cell, a scalable technology capable of producing steel with zero carbon emissions. The MOE process uses electricity to create liquid iron, and when powered by renewable energy sources like solar, wind, or nuclear power, it could significantly reduce the industry’s environmental footprint.
In 2024, the global steel industry produced nearly 2 billion metric tons of steel while contributing a massive amount of carbon emissions. The use of coke in the conventional steelmaking process has been the primary culprit, as it reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide. The MOE technology aims to replace coke with a cleaner, more sustainable method of steel production.
The current MOE system can produce one or two tons of steel per month, a small amount compared to the large-scale steel production needed worldwide. However, scaling up the process by adding more anodes and reactors could eventually lead to widespread adoption of green steel, transforming the steel industry and helping mitigate the effects of climate change.
Boston Metal’s innovation offers hope for a cleaner, greener future for one of the world’s most essential industries.
