Fig. 1: The research framework of this study.

The framework includes three modules. The first module is the sector-level decarbonization model, which forecasts the transformation pathways of China’s steel sector by 2060. The second module is the carbon source simulation module, which simulates the spatial distribution and emissions of steel units. The third module is the source-sink matching module, which optimizes the CCS deployment schemes in China’s steel sector and evaluates their economic cost, energy consumption, and water consumption. EETs energy-efficient technologies, CCS carbon capture and storage, GIS geographic information system.