Steel Decarbonization Dynamics Service

• At the core of SDDS is WSD’s Steel Industry Decarbonization and Cost Model — a fully integrated analytical engine that links CO2 emissions, cost structures, raw material consumption and energy requirements across the global steel industry.The model captures how each variable responds to three categories of change: step-change technology deployments, incremental operating improvements and shifting market dynamics. Critically, it quantifies the interdependencies between these factors, revealing the real tradeoffs — such as the cost implications of altering fuel mix, burden composition or operating practices to achieve a given emissions target.The result is not a set of isolated projections, but a connected system where subscribers can trace cause and effect across the full decarbonization landscape.

1. Semi-annual Reports featuring WSD’s analyses and forecasts

The SDDS Reports feature extensive analyses and a comprehensive set of forecasts of the industry carbon emissions, technology configurations, cost structures, raw materials consumption, and energy requirements. The Report includes over 75 tables and charts which summarize the country, region and global forecasts.

WSD has supplemented its extensive in-house knowledge through conversations with steel producers, technology equipment suppliers and technical experts

A unique feature of WSD’s forecast approach is the delineation of six critical steel industry decarbonization drivers starting at the country level:

• Steel production level
• Equipment configuration, DRI usage and CO₂ intensities based on reductant mix
• BF/BOF operational changes in fuel rates, fuel mixes, burden mixes, BOF hot metal ratio and yield
• Electricity grid CO₂ intensity
• Carbon capture (CCUS) rate

2. Data Package

As a supplement to the Reports, SDDS includes a data package (delivered to you in an excel file that is updated several times per year) which contains the detailed country level figures underpinning our Reports.

The Data Package covers 42 countries and 11 regions, with over 130 parameters including:

• Steel production
  • country totals by configuration
• CO₂ emissions and emissions intensity (CO₂ kg/tCS)
  • by configuration production stage
  • country totals by configuration
  • by factor input: e.g., proportion of EAF crude steel emissions attributable to charged DRI (which in turn is based on reductant mix)
• Raw materials consumption and usage rate (tons/ton)
  • per type: home scrap, external scrap, iron ore lump, fines, pellets
  • by configuration production stage
  • country totals by configuration
• Fuel/energy usage and usage rates (kg/tHM, kg/tDRI)
  • per type PCI, coke, green/blue/grey hydrogen, biomass, etc.
  • by configuration production stage
  • country totals by configuration

3. Customization:

SDDS reports deliver WSD’s expert analysis and forecasts across technology development, raw materials, energy and costs. But the real power lies in what subscribers can do with the model themselves.

WSD can produce tailored scenarios based on a client’s specific objectives and assumptions — at the country, regional or global level — generating the same detailed, integrated outputs found in the standard reports and data packages. The model also supports plant-level competitor benchmarking.

Customization capabilities include:

Cost curve modeling — Generate alternative industry cost curves under different input cost and carbon tax assumptions.

Technology adoption scenarios — Assess the impact of varying adoption rates for EAF production, DRI production, carbon capture (CCUS), hydrogen use in blast furnaces and other emerging pathways.

Configuration comparisons — Compare costs, emissions, raw material requirements and energy consumption across different steelmaking configurations including BF/BOF, BF/EAF, DRI/smelter/BOF and EAF/scrap & DRI.

Cost-emissions tradeoff analysis — Model the impact of operational levers such as adjusting BOF hot metal ratios or DRI charge rates to understand where cost and emissions goals align or conflict.

Value-in-use analysis — Evaluate inputs such as BF-grade versus DRI-grade pellets in DRI/smelter configurations to quantify their true economic and operational impact.

Competitor benchmarking — Benchmark individual plants on cost and emissions performance against regional and global peers.

SDDS includes an active database of major industry investments in steel decarbonization projects. This is updated monthly and delivered via an online portal available on our Global Steel Intelligence System (GSIS). The database covers:

• Steel producer CO₂ reduction projects and initiatives tracked by technology type, including direct emissions reduction, carbon capture, hydrogen-based iron making, carbon recycling into steel products, and green energy sources
• Extensive details on each project including maturity level, investment costs, targeted emissions reductions, technology suppliers, partnerships with other entities, launch dates and updates (as available)
• Other company and industry initiatives
• Key actions by mining companies, industry associations, and governments