Application of Digital Transformation in Green Steel Production with IoT-Enabled Environment

Abstract

This chapter investigates the role of decentralized finance (DeFi)-enabled digital transformation in advancing sustainable and intelligent practices within the energy and utilities ecosystem, with specific emphasis on Internet of Things (IoT)-driven green steel production. In an ideal industrial landscape, energy-intensive manufacturing systems operate through transparent financing mechanisms, real-time data exchange, and decentralized governance structures that jointly promote efficiency, resilience, and environmental responsibility. Such an ecosystem is expected to harmonize renewable energy integration, adaptive production management, and inclusive investment models. However, contemporary steel manufacturing remains constrained by centralized financial control, limited data monetization, fragmented energy markets, and insufficient incentives for large-scale green transition. Existing studies on Industry 4.0, IoT-enabled 30 manufacturing, and smart energy management highlight the operational benefits of sensor networks, predictive maintenance, and machine learning–based optimization. Parallel research on blockchain and DeFi emphasizes peer-to-peer transactions and decentralized governance in energy markets. Yet, these bodies of work largely evolve in isolation, offering limited insight into their systemic convergence within green industrial production. This study addresses this gap by proposing an integrated conceptual framework that links IoT intelligence, DeFi-based financing, and decentralized energy coordination. Through critical synthesis and analytical evaluation, the paper demonstrates how trustless financial architectures can enhance data-driven decision-making, support renewable energy utilization, and enable scalable green steel ecosystems. By bridging technological and financial decentralization, this research advances a coherent pathway for sustainable industrial transformation.