Voestalpine has broken ground on the “greentec steel” electric arc furnace project at its Linz headquarters, a month after doing the same at its Donawitz site.
Construction of the 1.6 million tonnes/year capacity EAF at Linz will begin in 2024, with commissioning scheduled three years later (see Kallanish passim). It will use a mix of scrap, liquid pig iron, and hot-briquetted iron as feedstock.
This will join the 850,000 t/y EAF at Donawitz, together reducing CO2 emissions by around 30% from 2027. This corresponds to an annual saving of almost 4 million tonnes of CO2 or 5% of domestic emissions.
Starting in 2030, the plan is to replace two more blast furnaces in Linz and Donawitz and invest in an additional EAF in Linz. To achieve the net zero target by 2050, the group is researching into several new processes and investing in pilot projects which explore new pathways in steel production.
“The two groundbreaking ceremonies in Linz and Donawitz are more than just a symbolic act and the start of a construction project. They are the visible cornerstone for voestalpine’s green future and an important milestone for climate protection in Austria,” says chief executive Herbert Eibensteiner.
The combined investment for both projects amounts to €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion), of which Linz accounts for around €1 billion.
Adam Smith Poland
