The Keep Cool Podcast E70: Making greener steel at significant scale with Tim Hill of Nucor
Aug 19, 2024
Tim Hill, General Manager of Sustainability Solutions at Nucor Corporation, discusses how Nucor, as North America's largest steel producer, leads in green steel production. He reveals how the company achieves a significant reduction in CO2 emissions through innovative recycling methods and electric arc furnace technology. Tim challenges misconceptions about steel being ‘hard to abate’ and highlights Nucor's goals for further decarbonization. The conversation also delves into global leadership opportunities in sustainable steel manufacturing and the importance of clean energy innovations.
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Tim's Long Path To Nucor Leadership
- Tim Hill joined Nucor after seeing an article about its unique, egalitarian culture and has worked there 28 years.
- He moved from frontline sales to enterprise strategy, ending up leading sustainability efforts.
Steel Is A Major Recycling Business
- Nucor is not only the largest North American steel producer but also the largest recycler by weight in the Western hemisphere.
- The business is as much recycling-focused as it is steel manufacturing-focused.
Circular Steel Beats Extractive Methods
- Nucor uses electric arc furnaces and predominantly recycled scrap to make steel, shifting the industry from extractive to circular production.
- About 75–80% of Nucor's feedstock is scrap and electricity is the primary energy source, reducing lifecycle emissions substantially.