Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Steel decarbonisation in the early 21st century : Innovation, clean power and modern industrial policy

Algers, Jonas LU orcid (2026)
Abstract (Swedish)
The global steel industry is a complex socio-technical system of strategic
importance, producing close to 10 percent of global emissions. Decarbonizing this
system will significantly impact energy use, supply chain configurations, and
international competitiveness, with geopolitical implications. Governments across
the world are therefore turning towards industrial policy to accelerate a
transformation and boost competitiveness of domestic industries.
This thesis investigates the role of green industrial policy for the decarbonisation of
steelmaking at three different levels of analysis: the firm, domestic policy and global
market level. First, by exploring the first radical decarbonising innovation... (More)
The global steel industry is a complex socio-technical system of strategic
importance, producing close to 10 percent of global emissions. Decarbonizing this
system will significantly impact energy use, supply chain configurations, and
international competitiveness, with geopolitical implications. Governments across
the world are therefore turning towards industrial policy to accelerate a
transformation and boost competitiveness of domestic industries.
This thesis investigates the role of green industrial policy for the decarbonisation of
steelmaking at three different levels of analysis: the firm, domestic policy and global
market level. First, by exploring the first radical decarbonising innovation project
HYBRIT in Northern Sweden through the lens of the innovative enterprise.
Favourable internal strategic, organisational and financial conditions enabled the
project, with spillover effects on the rest of the steel industry. Second, by combining
theoretical insights from the literature on energy systems and industrial policy on
the factors affecting the reconfiguration of global steel supply chains. Energy costs
are pivotal for the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industry, and one of multiple
factors shaping international competitiveness. Third, by exploring the potential of
policies for deliberate decline in breaking the carbon lock-in associated with steel
overcapacity. Although supportive policies have enabled early progress in lowcarbon
steelmaking, accelerating sector-wide decarbonization will require greater
emphasis on deliberate decline and reducing overcapacity.
By applying theoretical insights from the literatures on innovation, energy systems,
and green industrial policy, this thesis argues that ambitious policy initiatives are
critical enablers of the emergent transformation of steelmaking. These initiatives
have not only been motivated by sustainability targets, but also by geopolitical
competition. Policy achievements are however constrained by political
fragmentation and discontinuity in the EU and the US. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Dr. Persson, Åsa, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
steel, decarbonisation, hydrogen, industrial policy, competitiveness, innovation, Energy and climate policy, phase out
publisher
Lund University. Department of Environmental and Energy Systems Studies
defense location
Lecture Hall V:A, building V, Klas Anshelms väg 14, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, Lund. The dissertation will be live streamed, but part of the premises is to be excluded from the live stream. Zoom: https://lu-se.zoom.us/j/63885219911
defense date
2026-02-13 09:00:00
ISBN
978-91-8104-808-7
978-91-8104-809-4
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f7b702a9-a9fa-44d7-b48b-89225035e234
date added to LUP
2026-01-13 09:34:05
date last changed
2026-01-20 03:47:54
@phdthesis{f7b702a9-a9fa-44d7-b48b-89225035e234,
  abstract     = {{The global steel industry is a complex socio-technical system of strategic<br/>importance, producing close to 10 percent of global emissions. Decarbonizing this<br/>system will significantly impact energy use, supply chain configurations, and<br/>international competitiveness, with geopolitical implications. Governments across<br/>the world are therefore turning towards industrial policy to accelerate a<br/>transformation and boost competitiveness of domestic industries.<br/>This thesis investigates the role of green industrial policy for the decarbonisation of<br/>steelmaking at three different levels of analysis: the firm, domestic policy and global<br/>market level. First, by exploring the first radical decarbonising innovation project<br/>HYBRIT in Northern Sweden through the lens of the innovative enterprise.<br/>Favourable internal strategic, organisational and financial conditions enabled the<br/>project, with spillover effects on the rest of the steel industry. Second, by combining<br/>theoretical insights from the literature on energy systems and industrial policy on<br/>the factors affecting the reconfiguration of global steel supply chains. Energy costs<br/>are pivotal for the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industry, and one of multiple<br/>factors shaping international competitiveness. Third, by exploring the potential of<br/>policies for deliberate decline in breaking the carbon lock-in associated with steel<br/>overcapacity. Although supportive policies have enabled early progress in lowcarbon<br/>steelmaking, accelerating sector-wide decarbonization will require greater<br/>emphasis on deliberate decline and reducing overcapacity.<br/>By applying theoretical insights from the literatures on innovation, energy systems,<br/>and green industrial policy, this thesis argues that ambitious policy initiatives are<br/>critical enablers of the emergent transformation of steelmaking. These initiatives<br/>have not only been motivated by sustainability targets, but also by geopolitical<br/>competition. Policy achievements are however constrained by political<br/>fragmentation and discontinuity in the EU and the US.}},
  author       = {{Algers, Jonas}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-8104-808-7}},
  keywords     = {{steel; decarbonisation; hydrogen; industrial policy; competitiveness; innovation; Energy and climate policy; phase out}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University. Department of Environmental and Energy Systems Studies}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Steel decarbonisation in the early 21st century : Innovation, clean power and modern industrial policy}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/239231800/Algers_2026_Steel_decarbonisation_in_the_early_21st_century.pdf}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}