How can our steel production become
climate-neutral?
Salzgitter AG is one of Europe's leading steel and technology groups. We operate our integrated steelworks in Salzgitter almost energy self-sufficiently and close material cycles by reusing residual materials and by-products. We are now working very close to the limits of natural science and process technology, making us one of the world's most efficient steel manufacturers.
Nevertheless, production at our steelworks in Salzgitter generates around eight million tons of CO2 every year, which is unavoidable under the given technical conditions and with the equipment available. In order to reduce our CO2 emissions and drive forward climate-neutral steel production, we want to test new approaches and use innovative process technologies.
Green steel through green
hydrogen!
With our program SALCOS® (Salzgitter Low CO2 Steelmaking), we are working with our partners on the question of how we can use hydrogen to produce virtually climate-neutral steel.
The concept was developed together with partners in 2015. It comprises the individual steps for providing green steel. The components are hydrogen production and the conversion of steel production from blast furnaces to direct reduction, initially based on natural gas and later on hydrogen. With a complete switch to direct reduction plants, hydrogen can completely replace the carbon previously required for steel production and thus reduce our CO2 emissions by over 95 %. By setting ourselves the goal of avoiding CO2 directly (carbon direct avoidance strategy) rather than storing it or making it usable at great expense, our concept is sustainable and sets an example for the industry.
An ambitious project and its first implementation modules
SALCOS® comprises various aspects that interlock seamlessly and contribute to climate-neutral steel production in the long term. For several years, we have been gathering important findings for the planned large-scale operation of SALCOS® through various projects. With the WindH2 project, for example, we are gaining important experience in the production of green hydrogen based on wind power. In GrInHy 2.0, we are working on technologies for the efficient production of green hydrogen. With µDRAL, we are initiating the conversion of the blast furnace route to direct reduction plants - and are thus ultimately in a position to drastically reduce our CO2 emissions and ensure virtually climate-neutral steel.
Highlights of the SALCOS® program
SALCOS® is our key to climate-neutral steel production and at the same time a way to secure the future of the Salzgitter steel location and jobs. We would like to give you an understanding of this concept, which is of the utmost importance to us, in sound and vision and share with you the milestones we have achieved on the road to green steel.