Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Raw Steel Production Plants in the US

We evaluate cradle-to-gate lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for each U.S. steel production plant in 2022, accounting for uncertainty and spatial heterogeneity in ironmaking and steelmaking technologies, supply chain network dynamics, and material, fuel, and electricity supply. In 2022, the U.S. produced 81 million metric tons (mmt) of raw steel, with associated lifecycle emissions of 102 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (mmt CO₂e), with 95 mmt emitted domestically. The largest emission source is on-site combustion and processes at steel plants (49% of total emissions), followed by raw material plant operations and transport (23%) and off-site electricity generation (15%). Plant-level lifecycle emission intensities range from 0.4 to 2.5 mt CO₂e per mt raw steel produced across plants. Across steel production pathways, basic oxygen furnace (BOF) and electric arc furnace (EAF) plants have production-weighted average emission intensities of 2.0 and 0.8 mt CO₂e per mt raw steel produced, respectively. Emission intensities also vary across geographies and firms due to differences in supply chains, electricity supply, and production technologies. This study provides important insights for assessing climate mitigation pathways, investment decisions, and policies.