Breakthrough in Green Steel: China Launches First Mass-Produced Carbon-Negative Structural Steel

August 5, 2025​​ - The construction industry witnessed a revolutionary breakthrough in green building materials today. China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) Industrial Engineering Group announced that its newly developed "Zero-Carbon I-Beam" has officially received certification from the National Center for Quality Supervision and Testing of Building Materials. This marks China's core structural steel materials entering a mass "carbon-negative" production phase ahead of the global curve.

The product employs an innovative electric arc furnace (EAF) short-process steelmaking method. Combined with full rooftop photovoltaic power generation and supplementary biomass energy, the entire production process achieves 100% green energy consumption. Crucially, the R&D team has successfully integrated carbon dioxide mineralization sequestration technology into the rolling stage. For every ton of I-beam produced, 0.8 tons of CO₂ from industrial flue gas is permanently fixed, resulting in a 72% emissions reduction compared to traditional processes. Tests show that the nano calcium carbonate particles formed by sequestered CO₂ enhance the steel's yield strength to 800MPa while improving corrosion resistance.

The first batch of Zero-Carbon I-Beams will be used in the roof structure of the Xiong'an New Area high-speed rail hub project. Lead Engineer Li Zhentao revealed: "A 30,000-ton order can offset 35% of construction phase carbon emissions. The comprehensive cost increase is only 5%, with significant lifecycle economic benefits." Wang Ying, Director of the New Materials Division at the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, stated at the acceptance site that this technology has been incorporated as a scoring bonus in the newly revised "Green Building Evaluation Standard." It is projected to drive annual emissions reductions exceeding 20 million tons in China's steel structure sector by 2027.

Separate data from the Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute shows China's Q1 2025 steel structure output exceeded 30 million metric tons, an 18% year-on-year increase, fueled by surging demand from emerging sectors like photovoltaic brackets and modular construction. Industry analysts predict the green premium for zero-carbon steel will continue to narrow, potentially reaching market price parity within three years.