Industrial energy conservation and the steel industry of the United States

Abstract

Energy use in industry, in particular manufacturing, is reviewed. Materials manufacture dominates. Natural gas and electricity are the main energy forms, with coal and oil now almost specialty fuels. Declining energy use per ton of production has characterized materials manufacture, especially since 1972. An in-depth examination of trends and future possibilities in energy use per ton of product is made for the steel industry. Energy use in 1983 is analyzed by stage of production and for the integrated and secondary sectors. Ongoing reductions in energy use by means of technical improvements are discussed for iron making, steel making and shaping-treating. A conservation plan is presented for an integrated mill, which could reduce energy use by 20% and total costs by $12 per ton of mill product. Finally, expectations for changes in steel industry energy intensity in the medium term are very briefly discussed.