As part of its SALCOS® program, the Salzgitter Group has ordered one of Europe's largest production plants for green hydrogen from the technology group ANDRITZ. SALCOS® aims to achieve almost CO2-free (green) steel production. ANDRITZ will build a 100 MW electrolysis plant on the Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH site.
The system, which runs on an EPC basis, will contain the supplied HydrogenPro technology for pressure alkaline electrolysis. From 2026, the plant will produce around 9,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year, which will be used for the production of green steel. This will be the beginning of the industrial use of hydrogen within SALCOS®.
“The commissioning of the electrolysis plant is a significant step in the SALCOS® program and underlines our leading position in the transformation of the industry. However, so that we can make our steel production more CO2-free in the future, the fastest possible connection to the emerging hydrogen infrastructure is essential. This is the only way we can fully exploit the potential of SALCOS®. Politicians are now required to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and accelerate the development of a hydrogen infrastructure,” says Ulrich Grethe, CEO of Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH.
SALCOS® will be implemented in three stages. The first stage will go into operation as early as 2026 and consists of a direct reduction plant, an electric arc furnace (both already ordered) and the 100 MW electrolysis plant for hydrogen production. The switch to almost CO2-free steel production at the Salzgitter site should be completed by the end of 2033, long before the legal requirements.
“We are very proud that Salzgitter has chosen us as a partner and look forward to participating in the ambitious program to switch to green steel production. Thanks to its compact design, our hydrogen system fits perfectly into the existing infrastructure. Our extensive experience in large-scale plant construction gives us a solid basis for implementing this innovative project in collaboration with our partner HydrogenPro, whose pressure electrolysis stacks are very well suited for large industrial applications,” explains Domenico Iacovelli, CEO of the ANDRITZ GROUP.
The financing of stage 1 of SALCOS® was secured through funding from the Federal Republic of Germany and the state of Lower Saxony as well as significant equity from Salzgitter AG.
