Hydrogen Steelmaking: Swiss Steel Group Proves Green Hydrogen Works in Furnaces

Swiss Steel Group flipped the script on traditional steelmaking by ditching natural gas and firing up its furnaces with Green Hydrogen. Thanks to the EU-backed HYDREAMS initiative, this pilot run proved hydrogen can hit the crazy-high temps steelmaking demands without skimping on quality.

Can hydrogen really reshape steelmaking?

Looks like it can. Over trials covering a dozen-plus grades at Emmenbrücke in Switzerland, the team saw that hydrogen combustion only gives off water vapor—and, crucially, doesn’t mess with the steel’s microstructure or chemistry. “We’ve shown hydrogen can crank out the heat we need without losing a whit of quality,” says the Swiss Steel Group CEO. It’s a huge leap for Steel Decarbonization, knocking down a big roadblock in one of the planet’s carbon-heaviest industries.

How the technology comes together

Here’s the magic combo:

• Hydrogen-fired steelmaking: Burning at over 2,000°C—more than enough to liquefy steel—hydrogen swapped straight into Swiss Steel’s existing furnaces, producing nothing but H₂O.
• Viridis Carbon Software: This cloud-based brainchild from SMS Group tracks emissions in near real-time, giving operators an instant read on carbon intensity and process tweaks.

Who’s fueling the change?

It’s a classic team effort. Swiss Steel Group led the charge with its Lucerne R&D and production crew. The EU-backed HYDREAMS project aims to slash about 4.5 million metric tons of CO₂ from steelmaking by 2032. Meanwhile, SMS Group supplied the digital muscle with Viridis Carbon Software, nailing precise emissions monitoring and reporting for future scale-ups.

What’s in it for industry and planet?

Swapping in Green Hydrogen brings a toolbox of perks:

• Massive emissions cuts: That 4.5 million-ton CO₂ goal under HYDREAMS? Totally doable if these pilots scale.
• Regulatory compliance: Europe’s carbon rules are tightening—front-runners will breeze past them.
• Market differentiation: “Low-carbon steel” now commands VIP treatment in automotive, engineering, and energy circles.
• Supply-chain shift: As demand for fossil gas dips, investments pivot toward electrolyzers and renewable power.

Building on early success

With lab-scale validation in the bag, Swiss Steel Group is gearing up for full-blown industrial demos. These trials will push continuous operation, hefty hydrogen flows, and real-world cost checks. “This isn’t a one-off stunt,” reminds the HYDREAMS project director. “It’s how we roll out Hydrogen Steelmaking across Europe.”

Looking down the road

As Green Hydrogen production ramps up—thanks to cheaper electrolyzers and abundant renewable power—hydrogen-ready furnaces will leap to the front of the pack. Swiss Steel’s combo of process know-how and digital tracking puts it center stage in the Steel Decarbonization race. If these industrial demos echo the pilot’s wins, we’ll watch a swift flip from coal and gas to hydrogen, unlocking massive strides in industrial decarbonization.

In the coming years, we won’t be asking if hydrogen can take fossil fuels’ place in steelmaking—it’ll be how quickly the sector can sprint toward a near-zero-carbon future. With Swiss Steel Group’s milestone trials and EU backing through HYDREAMS, that future’s inching closer every day.