Fuels and energy sources are crucial to the metallurgical industry, where steel production still relies heavily on coal and natural gas to provide energy and sustain chemical reactions. Reducing CO₂ emissions can occur by progressively replacing coal with natural gas, hydrogen, electricity, biomass from deforestation, plastic waste, and bioplastics, or by integrating CO₂ capture, utilization, and storage technologies. Among low-emission alternatives, hydrogen is currently one of the most promising candidates, along with carbons of biogenic origin or those derived from methane pyrolysis and biomethane. However, global hydrogen production still derives primarily from non-renewable sources, so emerging technologies such as methane pyrolysis are proving more efficient and cost-effective, just as biogenic carbons are fitting into a better economic circularity perspective.

A true decarbonization of the steel industry requires the adoption of such technologies which would allow a reduction in CO₂ emissions by over 80%.