Hydrogen in Steel Industry: Top 10 Projects & Companies
Green Steel’s Hydrogen Revolution: A Gigawatt-Scale Transformation
Imagine a world where the backbone of modern society – steel – is produced without contributing to climate change. This isn’t a futuristic fantasy; it’s the driving force behind the rapidly expanding movement towards green steel, fueled by a surge in large-scale green hydrogen projects. The steel industry, a notorious emitter, is increasingly turning to hydrogen produced from renewable energy to drastically reduce its carbon footprint. Let’s delve into the gigawatt-scale installations reshaping the steel landscape.
Hydrogen-Powered Steel: Giants Emerging
These are some key hydrogen installations driving the revolution:
1. H2 Green Steel (Sweden)
Company: H2 Green Steel
Installation Capacity: $3 billion budget.
Applications: Green steel production using hydrogen produced with renewable energy.
Source: World’s largest hydrogen “green steel” plant to open in Sweden by …
2. HyDeal Ambition
Company: Not specified in provided context.
Installation Capacity: 67 GW
Applications: Green hydrogen production for various applications, including steel.
Source: the world’s 25 largest gigawatt-scale green-hydrogen projects
3. Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe Green Hydrogen Plant
Company: Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe, Thyssenkrupp Uhde Chlorine Engineers and Steag
Installation Capacity: 500 MW
Applications: Hydrogen electrolysis for steel production.
Source: German steel giant wants to set up 500 MW green hydrogen plant
4. NEOM Green Hydrogen Project (Saudi Arabia)
Company: Not specified in provided context.
Installation Capacity: $8.4 billion plant
Applications: Green hydrogen production, not exclusively for steel but a major project.
Source: Green Hydrogen Companies To Keep An Eye On in 2025
5. Madoqua H2 project (Portugal)
Company: Not specified in provided context.
Installation Capacity: 500 MW electrolyser capacity. Allows the production of 70,000 tons of hydrogen per year.
Applications: Large scale green hydrogen production.
Source: Portugal | Green Hydrogen Organisation
6. White Dragon Project (Greece)
Company: Not specified in provided context.
Installation Capacity: 4.65 GW of green sustainable hydrogen capacity.
Applications: Green sustainable hydrogen production.
Source: Assessing green hydrogen production costs – KPMG International
7. Western Green Energy Hub (Australia)
Company: Not specified in provided context.
Installation Capacity: 28GW
Applications: Green hydrogen production
Source: Nine of the Largest Green Hydrogen Projects 2022 – Fuel Cells Works
8. Aman Project (Mauritania)
Company: CWP
Installation Capacity: 16-20 GW
Applications: Green hydrogen production for steel industry
Source: Mauritania’s Steel Industry Fueled by Green Hydrogen
9. Green Energy Oman
Company: Not specified in provided context.
Installation Capacity: Not specified in provided context.
Applications: Green hydrogen production
Source: Nine of the Largest Green Hydrogen Projects 2022 – Fuel Cells Works
10. Angang Steel RE-H2-DRI Project (China)
Company: Angang Steel
Installation Capacity: Not specified in provided context.
Applications: Green hydrogen in a zero-carbon fluidized bed for steel production.
Source: Will China Win the Green Steel Race? H2-DRI-EAF Market and …
From Niche to Necessity: Diverse Applications Drive Adoption
The applications of green hydrogen in steelmaking are multifaceted, extending beyond simply replacing fossil fuels in existing processes. H2 Green Steel’s project in Sweden, for example, aims for end-to-end green steel production, starting with hydrogen produced from renewable energy. Other projects like Angang Steel’s RE-H2-DRI Project in China, are pioneering the use of green hydrogen in innovative, zero-carbon fluidized beds. The HyDeal Ambition project with its massive 67 GW capacity illustrates the scale required to make a significant impact across various sectors, including steel. This demonstrates that steel is not the only application for green hydrogen, but a crucial cornerstone in a broader decarbonization strategy. This diversity, combined with the growing urgency to address climate change, is accelerating the adoption of green hydrogen technologies.
A World of Opportunity: Mapping Geographic Trends
A clear geographic pattern emerges, highlighting regions poised to lead the green steel revolution. Europe, with projects like H2 Green Steel in Sweden, Thyssenkrupp in Germany, and the White Dragon Project in Greece, is at the forefront, driven by stringent environmental regulations and ambitious decarbonization targets. Australia (Western Green Energy Hub) and the Middle East (NEOM Green Hydrogen Project) are also significant players, leveraging abundant renewable energy resources to produce green hydrogen at scale. Furthermore, the Aman Project in Mauritania shows that developing countries are also getting involved in the green hydrogen revolution. The presence of Angang Steel in China signals a potential shift in the world’s largest steel producer, suggesting a growing awareness of the need for sustainable practices in Asia. The global distribution of these projects demonstrates that the transition to green steel is not a regional phenomenon but a worldwide movement.
From Pilot to Plant: Assessing Technology Maturity
The installations provide insights into the maturity of green hydrogen technologies for steelmaking. While some projects, like H2 Green Steel, are still in the early stages of construction and development, they represent a shift towards commercial-scale green steel production. Thyssenkrupp’s 500 MW plant showcases established companies investing in significant hydrogen electrolysis capacity for direct integration into their steelmaking processes. The scale of projects like the Western Green Energy Hub (28GW) indicate long-term ambitions for hydrogen production and export, suggesting a future where green hydrogen becomes a globally traded commodity. The existence of RE-H2-DRI project points to a maturity in the use of hydrogen in specific steel production processes such as DRI. These observations suggest that the technology is transitioning from pilot projects and demonstrations to large-scale commercial deployments.
A Greener Future: Emerging Insights and the Road Ahead
These large-scale green hydrogen installations signal a profound shift in the steel industry. The commitment to multi-billion dollar projects, combined with the geographic spread and diverse applications, suggests that green steel is not just a trend but a fundamental transformation. While challenges remain – including the cost of green hydrogen production and the need for supportive infrastructure – the momentum is undeniable. Emerging insights include the potential for green hydrogen to unlock new markets for steel, as consumers increasingly demand products with lower carbon footprints. Furthermore, the integration of renewable energy sources with hydrogen production facilities creates opportunities for energy independence and grid stabilization. As these installations come online and prove their economic viability, they will pave the way for a cleaner, more sustainable steel industry, and accelerate the global transition to a low-carbon economy.
