As Europe accelerates its transition toward climate neutrality, the steel industry plays a pivotal role. The HEPHAESTUS project, funded by Horizon Europe, directly supports this transformation by pioneering circular solutions to industrial steelmaking residues. Through cutting-edge innovation, HEPHAESTUS recovers valuable raw materials from electric arc furnace (EAF) dust and other byproducts, aligning with broader EU efforts to decarbonize and modernize steel production.

Within HEPHAESTUS, we wrote the policy brief “Advancing Green Steel Production through HEPHAESTUS Project”, which outlines how our project complements the shift toward green steel by enhancing material efficiency, supporting renewable energy integration, and reducing dependence on virgin raw materials, while contributing to the EU Green Deal and circular economy objectives.

Executive summary 
The European steel industry is undergoing a transformative shift toward sustainability through the adoption of green-steel production methods. Key advances include the replacement of carbon-intensive blast furnaces (BFs) with electric arc furnaces (EAFs), hydrogen-powered technologies, and innovative recycling practices. These initiatives aim to drastically reduce the steel sector’s carbon footprint, aligning with the EU’s Green Deal and global climate goals. This document explores current technologies, market drivers, challenges, and future prospects for green-steel production.

Read the full brief here.