In Detail : Swiss Steel Group has launched a new initiative to test hydrogen in steel production as part of its sustainability strategy. The project aims to reduce the sector’s heavy dependence on fossil fuels while addressing one of the most pressing challenges in industrial decarbonization. With this step, the company strengthens its commitment to building a low-carbon future.

The steel industry is one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions globally, responsible for nearly 7% of worldwide CO₂ output. Traditional production methods rely heavily on coal and other fossil fuels, creating environmental concerns. By testing hydrogen as an alternative energy source, Swiss Steel is exploring cleaner pathways to meet rising global demand sustainably.

Hydrogen has emerged as a promising solution in energy-intensive sectors due to its ability to replace carbon-based fuels in industrial processes. When used correctly, hydrogen generates water vapor as the only by-product, making it a zero-emission alternative. Swiss Steel’s decision to invest in this innovation highlights growing momentum across industries to adopt hydrogen for deep decarbonization.

The project also reflects Europe’s broader energy transition goals under the European Green Deal. Governments and industry leaders are encouraging the use of green hydrogen to reduce emissions and achieve net-zero targets by 2050. Swiss Steel’s testing is aligned with these ambitions, showcasing private sector participation in achieving continental climate milestones.

Beyond reducing emissions, the adoption of hydrogen in steel production can also enhance operational efficiency. Hydrogen-based processes could streamline energy use while lowering overall costs in the long term. This creates an opportunity for Swiss Steel to combine profitability with sustainability, offering a model for other steelmakers to follow.

However, challenges remain in scaling hydrogen adoption across the steel industry. High production costs, infrastructure requirements, and limited green hydrogen availability pose hurdles. Swiss Steel’s pilot project is designed to address these obstacles and provide practical insights into future industrial applications.

Industry experts believe that successful integration of hydrogen could reshape global steel markets. Companies pioneering such technologies are expected to gain competitive advantages while contributing to climate goals. Swiss Steel’s move positions it as a leader in innovative steel manufacturing and environmental responsibility.

The project also reflects a growing trend of industrial companies forming partnerships with technology providers and energy firms. Collaboration will be critical in scaling hydrogen adoption and reducing associated costs. By working alongside stakeholders, Swiss Steel aims to accelerate progress and drive industry-wide change.

With this initiative, Swiss Steel Group reinforces its commitment to a greener industrial future. As hydrogen use in steel production develops further, the company is set to play a vital role in advancing sustainable practices. The pilot project not only reduces emissions but also represents a significant step towards transforming one of the world’s most polluting industries.

The Swiss Steel Group, leading European steel producer in the long steel and green steel segments, has taken another important step in its decarbonization strategy. The Group has decided to become the first European steel producer and the world’s first secondary route producer to join the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) supply chain program. The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Supply Chain Program is a global program that helps companies measure and reduce CO2 emissions from their supply chain. It helps companies understand and improve the environmental performance of their suppliers and enables them to accurately track their CO2 emissions in the supply chain. As part of this initiative, the Swiss Steel Group has approached its 150 most important suppliers of raw materials and consumables with the aim of obtaining and better understanding their specific carbon footprint.

This enables the Swiss Steel Group to include the environmental performance of its suppliers in the purchasing decision process. In addition, requesting primary emission data directly from the supplier enables a more accurate calculation of the product carbon footprint (PCF) than with secondary emission factors based on averages. In the future, the Swiss Steel Group will be able to provide its customers with a more accurate PCF that better reflects the carbon footprint of their specific products.

As the European Green Steel market leader, Swiss Steel Group attaches great importance to sustainability and environmental protection throughout the supply chain and is determined to make its contribution to a holistic cradle-to-gate approach to CO2 emissions.

“We are proud to be a pioneer in this important area and to further expand our role as a thought leader in the Green Steel segment. We hope for the cooperation of our suppliers and that other companies will follow us,” said Frank Koch, CEO of Swiss Steel Group. The Swiss Steel Group is determined to continue working on climate protection and sustainability issues and to remain committed to a better future for society and the environment.

About Swiss Steel Group

The Swiss Steel Group is one of the world’s leading suppliers of individual solutions in the field of special steel long products. In both tool steel and stainless long steel, the Group is one of the leading manufacturers in the global market and is one of the two largest companies in Europe for alloyed and high-alloyed engineering steel. With almost 10,000 employees and its own production and distribution companies in over 30 countries on five continents, the company offers a complete portfolio of production and sales & services worldwide.