Steel-IQ: A state-of-the-art, open-source modelling for the decarbonisation of the iron & steel sector
A new platform, Steel-IQ, has been officially launched to provide an open, transparent, and authoritative analytical foundation for decarbonising the iron and steel sector worldwide. Developed by Systemiq, with support from iron and steel industry and policy experts, Steel-IQ sets a new benchmark in open analytics for heavy industry, enabling stakeholders to design, test, and evaluate pathways to a low-carbon, competitive global steel industry.
Steel-IQ builds upon Systemiq’s experience in developing sector transition strategies for hard-to-abate sectors for the Mission Possible Partnership in 2022 and 2023.
In the coming weeks, the Steel-IQ team will introduce three core scenarios. These will include a business-as-usual scenario, as well as Paris Agreement-aligned carbon cost and subsidy scenarios. This set of scenarios will provide users with robust reference pathways while supporting detailed policy and investment analysis, helping to align sector action with global climate objectives.
Steel Decarbonisation: A Global Challenge
Iron and steel production is responsible for roughly 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making the sector’s transformation vital to achieving climate targets. Yet decarbonisation presents formidable challenges – the limited availability of high-grade iron ore, an evolving and uneven scrap supply, a patchwork of global policy support, complex trade dynamics, and variations in technology adoption and diffusion.
Addressing Core Sector Challenges
Steel-IQ is built as an open-source, standalone and extendable platform, delivering comprehensive analytics that address the most critical obstacles to decarbonisation.
- Iron Sources & Scrap Supply: Users can model the impacts of changing ore grades (powered by S&P mine data) and global scrap flows on the economics and emissions profile of steel production.
- Industry Footprint Evolution: Scenario tools enable the exploration of new plant locations, factoring in geography, renewable energy availability, infrastructure, and local regulatory contexts.
- Trade & Subsidy Impacts: Steel-IQ simulates how tariffs, carbon border adjustments, and subsidy schemes shape competitiveness and cross-border investment, providing an evidence base for strategic advocacy and negotiation.
- Policy and Carbon Pricing: The platform can evaluate the effects of industrial policy choices and diverse carbon price paths on technology adoption, emissions, and global steel flows.
Collaborative Development & Expert Input
A key strength of Steel-IQ lies in its wide-ranging partnership with the sector’s top experts and institutions. Development was supported by experts from multiple iron ore majors, a cross section of major international steel producers, leading international agencies and steel standard setters, and universities.
What Makes Steel-IQ Distinctive
Steel-IQ empowers users to upload and run custom scenarios – securely, with full protection of proprietary data stored locally. Its intuitive interface transforms complex analysis into interactive maps, transparent cost curves, and detailed charts.
“The decarbonisation of iron and steel is increasingly feasible – the technology exists, and the economics are starting to add up. But achieving impact at scale requires moving beyond isolated pilots to coordinated, sector‑wide transformation. Steel‑IQ’s open‑access platform equips decision‑makers with the analysis and modelling needed to turn ambition into large‑scale, practical action across the global steel value chain.”
Lord Adair Turner
Chair, Energy Transitions Commission
Impact and What’s Next
Amid calls for more pragmatic climate and energy strategies – and with leading iron ore economies hosting COP30 and COP31 – Steel-IQ offers powerful support for a wide community: from miners and steelmakers to technology providers, investors, policymakers and civil society.
The platform:
- Enables scenario analysis on iron ore quality, scrap availability, asset locations, trade policies, and subsidies
- Equips policymakers to test industrial policy choices and carbon pricing
- Delivers evidence for strategic advocacy, risk management, and investment
- Shares results in comprehensive data files and user-friendly visuals
The Bottom Line
Steel-IQ gives everyone – from experts to new users – a seat at the table for decarbonising steel. By making world-class analytics transparent and accessible, Systemiq is opening new pathways for industry transformation and climate impact.
