Masdar And EMSTEEL Successfully Complete Green Hydrogen Pilot Project For Green Steel Production

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar and EMSTEEL have successfully completed a pilot project using green hydrogen to produce green steel. This initiative, the first in the Middle East and North Africa, uses green hydrogen to extract iron from iron ore, a crucial step in steel production. The project is now fully operational, marking a significant milestone in sustainable steel manufacturing.

The renewable hydrogen used in this project has been certified by Avance Labs, following the ISO 19870 methodology for hydrogen. Bureau Veritas validated the certification data as an independent assurance provider. This certification underscores the project's commitment to international standards and sustainability.

Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi stated, "This project demonstrates world-class innovation as a result of our partnership with EMSTEEL to produce green steel utilising green hydrogen. Decarbonisation of hard-to-abate industries is vital to the global undertaking to achieve the objectives of the historic UAE Consensus agreed at COP28. Green hydrogen is an essential element in advancing national and global decarbonisation efforts and we are proud to be at the forefront of that endeavor."

The collaboration between Masdar and EMSTEEL highlights green hydrogen's potential to decarbonise the steel industry. It also showcases how clean energy and heavy industry partners in the UAE are working together to accelerate energy transition efforts.

The UAE aims to become a major hub for green steel production due to rising global demand. The National Green Certificates Program, launched by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure in July 2024, promotes sustainable building materials like steel.

Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group CEO of EMSTEEL, commented on their commitment: "We are committed to propelling decarbonisation efforts in the sector, in support of the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. Our efforts to date have been fruitful, with our current utilisation of clean energy sources rising above 80 percent in 2023. EMSTEEL is also the first steelmaker in the world to capture part of its CO2 emissions, enabling us to operate with 45 percent less carbon intensity than the global average. Our partnership with Masdar will play a key role in continuing to build on our efforts to decarbonise this hard-to-abate sector and the downstream supply chain."

Policy Alignment and Future Goals

This pilot project aligns with Abu Dhabi’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Policy, promoting low-carbon hydrogen as a future clean energy source. It represents a significant step towards economic growth, sustainability, and energy security.

The Low Carbon Hydrogen Policy complements the UAE National Hydrogen Strategy, which aims for the UAE to be a leading global producer of low-carbon hydrogen by 2031. This strategic alignment supports both national and international sustainability goals.

The successful completion of this pilot project marks an important advancement for sustainable steel production using green hydrogen. It reflects ongoing efforts by Masdar and EMSTEEL towards achieving broader environmental objectives while fostering collaboration within key industries.

With inputs from WAM