Salzgitter AG has signed its first large-scale external green hydrogen procurement agreement through its subsidiary, Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH, with German energy company EWE AG, marking a key milestone in the country’s hydrogen economy and the decarbonization of the steel industry.
Under the long-term agreement, EWE will supply approximately 10,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually from its 320 MW electrolysis plant in Emden, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2030 via Germany’s hydrogen core network. The contract has an initial duration of seven years and will support Salzgitter’s SALCOS (Salzgitter Low CO₂ Steelmaking) transformation program.
According to the company, the contracted hydrogen volume is expected to meet around 6.5% of SALCOS’ future hydrogen demand. In addition to external procurement, Salzgitter plans to produce approximately 9,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually through its own 100 MW electrolyzer, further strengthening its low-carbon steelmaking capabilities.
At full scale, the SALCOS program is projected to require up to 150,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year as the company transitions toward near climate-neutral steel production. The initiative forms a central part of Salzgitter’s strategy to significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from its manufacturing operations.
The agreement is also viewed as an important step in the commercialization of Germany’s emerging hydrogen economy, connecting large-scale renewable hydrogen production with industrial demand through the country’s developing hydrogen infrastructure.
By securing long-term green hydrogen supplies, Salzgitter aims to enhance energy security for its steelmaking operations while accelerating the adoption of hydrogen-based industrial processes. The partnership also reinforces Germany’s broader efforts to establish a competitive hydrogen market and support the decarbonization of energy-intensive industries.
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