A joint trial by Australia’s CSIRO and the Indian Institute of Science has shown that agricultural waste can be used to reduce emissions from steel production, with early results suggesting the approach could be applied at commercial scale.
The project tested whether rice husk pellets could partially replace coal in the steelmaking process. Conducted at a large facility operated by Jindal Steel in Odisha, the trial found that blending biomass into existing systems did not affect performance, while allowing for lower carbon output.
Researchers introduced biomass at rates of 5 per cent and 10 per cent into gasifiers used for iron ore reduction. These units produce synthesis gas, a key input in direct reduced iron production, which is widely used across India’s steel sector. The trial confirmed that biomass-derived gas could be sustained over time, offering an alternative to coal-based inputs.
Steel production remains one of the most carbon-intensive industrial activities, accounting for roughly a tenth of global emissions. In India, emissions per tonne of steel are higher than the global average, largely due to the widespread use of coal and a network of smaller-scale facilities. With the country’s steel capacity expected to expand sharply over the coming decades, pressure is building to find workable ways to limit emissions without slowing output.
The Indian government has outlined a pathway to reach net zero by 2070, with options including greater use of scrap, electric arc furnaces, hydrogen and carbon capture. Biomass has been identified as a practical addition to this mix, particularly given the large volumes of agricultural residue generated each year.
Supporters of the trial say the use of crop waste could address two issues at once. It offers a substitute for coal in industrial processes while providing an alternative to the open burning of residues, which contributes to air pollution in many regions. Estimates suggest that, if adopted widely, biomass use in steelmaking could cut sector emissions by up to half, although this would depend on supply chains, costs and consistent policy backing.
The project was carried out with RESCONS Solutions Pvt Ltd, a company linked to the Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development at IISc. Alongside the trial, the research team has released a mapping tool that links steelmaking sites with nearby biomass availability, aimed at helping industry assess where the model could be applied.
Researchers involved in the work describe the results as a practical demonstration rather than a finished solution. Further testing is planned across smaller regional plants and with different types of biomass, as well as efforts to increase the share of coal that can be replaced.
Industry analysts say the findings are encouraging, particularly for countries where coal remains central to steel production. At the same time, they note that scaling the approach will require reliable biomass supply, transport infrastructure and incentives that make it competitive with existing fuels.
The trial adds to a wider set of efforts to lower emissions in heavy industry, where progress has been slower than in sectors such as electricity. Whether biomass becomes a mainstream option in steelmaking will likely depend on how these early results translate into long-term costs, policy support and operational consistency across different plants.
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