Dillinger Hütte and Saarstahl have started producing hydrogen-based steel at their joint steel plant Rogesa in Saarland, Germany. According to the two companies, the Dillinger plant is the first steel plant in Germany to use hydrogen as a reducing agent in normal blast furnace operation. This is achieved by supplying hydrogen-rich coke oven gas.

"We can use this technology to further reduce our carbon footprint while gaining valuable experience with hydrogen in steel production," explained Martin Baus, chief technology officer. "The plant will allow us to use pure hydrogen in our next two blast furnaces." Callanisch, a start-up business intelligence consulting firm, said that the investment in the new technology has reached 14 million euros ($16.5 million).

"Our ambitious goal is to reduce our carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2035," said Group CEO Tim Hartmann. During a visit by German Economy Minister Peter Altmer Hartmann last week, he called for a political framework to be established in this regard this year.

"The German government's steel action plan and the current German Presidency of the EU Council provide an opportunity for Berlin and Brussels to create a framework to demonstrate their commitment to the green deal," he said.