Release of the report “Decarbonizing Steel Production—Is Hydrogen the Only Solution?” (in partnership with Zenon Research)

Steel is by far the most widely used metal and the single raw material with the greatest climate impact. Thanks to its strength and low cost, it forms the backbone of modern civilizations. Its primary production relies heavily on coal and takes place in very large facilities, the decarbonization of which will in every case require the implementation of breakthrough technologies: carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, or iron ore electrolysis. All of these options are currently not yet mature, and their large-scale deployment still poses profound and complex challenges on industrial, commercial, and political fronts.

Faced with a challenging environment—high energy costs, intense international competition, and political pressure to decarbonize—the European steel industry finds itself at a crossroads: torn between the ambition to lead the climate transition and the potential threat to its very survival.

This report synthesizes current knowledge on existing and emerging low-carbon technologies and provides an overview of potential decarbonization pathways, summarizing their potential, constraints, trade-offs, and knowledge gaps. It aims to help policymakers, stakeholders, and civil society better understand the transition to a decarbonized steel industry.

• Download the full report