STEEL NEWS

EUROFER Welcomes EU Hydrogen Steel Strategy

According to Platts, the European steel industry has welcomed the launch of the European Commission's Hydrogen Strategy for Climate-Neutral Europe, which sets out a plan to create an integrated hydrogen energy network in Europe by 2050. 

“Clean energy at competitive prices is key to achieving the low-carbon goals of the steel industry,” said Axel Eggert, Director General of the European Steel Manufacturers Association (EUROFER). “Of this, nearly 250 terawatt hours are needed to produce 5.5 million tons of hydrogen, which will be used in new processes for the production of green steel. At the same time, about 5% of the total CO2 emissions in the EU can be avoided. ” 

“The benefits to society of the availability of hydrogen and environmentally friendly industrial products, such as environmentally friendly steel, are enormous - so Europe needs to strive to make the transition to energy as quickly and comprehensively as possible,” Eggert added. 

 Steel produced using new methods based on the use of hydrogen and clean energy will consume 80-95% less CO2 by 2050 than today, but it will cost significantly more to produce. However, the environmental benefits are huge, says EUROFER. The use of hydrogen in metallurgical plants will create a noticeable regional synergy. Other industrial sectors and municipalities can connect to the hydrogen network resulting from large-scale demand created in the steel industry, creating new opportunities and jobs.