Sustainably
entering a new era of steel production
We are making industrial history once again at thyssenkrupp Steel with our transformation into a carbon-neutral steel producer. Everyone stands to benefit from the success of one of the biggest industrial decarbonization projects worldwide – the construction of our new direct reduction plant, which is scheduled to come on stream at the end of 2026.Our steel: the starting point for the industrial value chain of the future, the success of the turnaround in energy and climate policy, with long-term job prospects in Germany and throughout Europe.
Blueprint for decarbonization of industry. Engine of the European hydrogen economy. An important decision for climate change mitigation and for Germany as an industrial center.
The 100% hydrogen-capable direct reduction plant with two melters has a production capacity of 2.5 million metric tons of directly reduced iron per year. It is the first plant combination of its kind in the world with this technological concept. This will make thyssenkrupp Steel a pioneer in the decarbonization of the steel value chain in Europe and, among other things, guarantee indispensable specialty materials for the success of the energy and mobility revolution.
Sustainable steel production
that saves up to 3.5 million metric tons of CO2 in the first step alone.
Away from iron ore reduction by carbon in the blast furnace. Towards hot metal production through the use of hydrogen in the direct reduction plant and with the help of newly developed melters in the direct reduction plant. A gigantic conversion job which will save up 3.5 million metric tons of CO2 in steel production in the first stage alone. This corresponds to about 2% of the emissions in North Rhine-Westphalia.
But this is just the beginning. By 2045 at the latest, we will be producing carbon-neutral steel at the Duisburg site. To put it in context: With the conventional steelmaking process in our blast furnaces, we are responsible for 20 million metric tons of CO2 per year, and thus for around 2.5% of Germany's CO2 burden. With the new plant, we are already replacing one blast furnace.
Sustainable steel
for Germany's independence and economic might.
Steel is an indispensable basic material for the energy and mobility revolution. And now that is also in green.
Being Germany's biggest producer of flat steel entails an immensely significant role in the future of the domestic economy. After all, thyssenkrupp Steel's successful transformation will make a major contribution toward helping entire sectors of the economy achieve their climate targets. Sustainable steel with a low carbon footprint is the material that is needed now to enable value creation to continue in Germany.
Sustainable steel
that will accelerate the development of the hydrogen economy.
The need for carbon-neutral hydrogen is just as huge as the task of converting our hot metal production. The direct reduction plant will require more hydrogen every two hours than will fit in the Oberhausen gasometer, for example.
Being able to sell such unimaginably large quantities of hydrogen means that European hydrogen manufacturers can now invest massively with great planning certainty. As one of the very important customers in the future, we are thus accelerating the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy.
Sustainable steel
that secures jobs and prosperity.
We are strengthening our industrial base and securing attractive jobs in the region – 26,000 directly in the company, 150,000 in downstream industries in North Rhine-Westphalia, while nationwide there are as many as four million jobs in steel-intensive sectors. Our transformation will lead to a large number of new career profiles, make for a qualification boost and create jobs with a secure future.
To put it briefly: we will not only maintain the quality standards of our steel grades. Employees in our plants, at suppliers and processors also stand to benefit from this – both in the Ruhr region and beyond. This means our steel is the starting point for the industrial value chain of the future, the success of the turnaround in energy and climate policy, and for lots of high-quality jobs in Germany and throughout Europe.
Contact
thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG
Mark Stagge
Head of Public & Media Relations
thyssenkrupp Steel Europe
Roswitha Becker
Press spokesperson
