Green Steel Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast (2024 -2030)

Green Steel Market Overview

Green steel is produced using low-carbon energy sources such as hydrogen, coal gasification, or electricity instead of fossil fuels. This eco-friendly method reduces greenhouse gas emissions, cuts costs, and enhances steel quality. Utilizing low-carbon hydrogen, such as blue and green hydrogen, significantly reduces the steel industry’s carbon footprint.

 

The green steel market within the steel industry represents a transformative shift that emphasizes the responsibility of sustainability and the environment. This is driven by the global need to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change, given that traditional steel production is one of the largest industrial sources of CO2 emissions.

 

The market for green steel is expected to grow rapidly during the forecast period due to the increasing regulatory pressures, technological advancements and increasing demand from end-use industries. As more green steel companies and governments are committing to carbon neutrality, the adoption of green steel is accelerating. POSCO International, ArcelorMittal, Thyssenkrupp and SSAB are the top players in the green steel industry.

 

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Green Steel Market Competitive Landscape

The competition in the market is intensifying as the established steel producers, emerging companies and technology providers are making efforts to lead the transition towards sustainable steel production. This competitive landscape of the Green Steel market is characterized by innovation, strategic partnerships and substantial investments in research and development. Some examples of the recent developments of the Green Steel companies are:

 

1. Collaboration: Masdar and Emirates Steel Arkan are collaborating on a pilot green hydrogen project set to commence operation in early 2024 at the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi. This initiative aims to decarbonize steel production by replacing natural gas with green hydrogen in the iron extraction process from iron ore. Emirates Steel Arkan aims to achieve a 40% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050, marking a significant step towards sustainable steel manufacturing in the MENA region.
2. Brand Introduction: Salzgitter AG has introduced its green steel brand SALCOS® at the Hannover Messe 2024, marking its commitment to sustainable steel production. SALCOS® products align with the Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS) of the German Steel Association, ensuring high decarbonization levels. These CO2-reduced steel products come with independent Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) certification. The SALCOS® brand supports customers in reducing Scope 3 emissions and achieving sustainability goals, offering high-quality steel with clear, transparent labeling.
3. Product Supply Strategy: JFE Steel had planned to supply JGreeX™ green-steel products starting from the 2023 fiscal year, aiming for an initial annual capacity of 200,000 tons. These products, produced with advanced steelmaking processes, are expected to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. JFE Steel will use a mass balance approach to assess emissions reductions, with third-party certification by ClassNK. The initiative is part of JFE's strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, focusing on enhancing sustainability and efficiency in steel production.

 

Green Steel Market Dynamics

Increasing Global Initiatives to Promote Green Steel Production to Reduce CO2 Emissions Driving the Global Green Steel Market

Governments worldwide are implementing policies and incentives, such as carbon pricing, tax breaks and subsidies, to encourage the adoption of low-carbon steelmaking technologies. International collaborations, like the European Union's Green Deal and the Mission Possible Partnership, are fostering innovation and investment in green steel production. Additionally, global environmental agreements, including the Paris Agreement, are pushing industries to align with climate targets, further boosting green steel adoption.

 

Leading steel producers are also setting ambitious decarbonization goals, investing in renewable energy sources, and adopting cleaner production methods like hydrogen-based direct reduction and electric arc furnaces. These collective efforts are not only reducing the carbon footprint of the steel industry but also driving Green Steel market growth by increasing the demand for sustainable steel solutions across various sectors, including construction, automotive, and infrastructure.

 

Global Initiative	Details
First Movers Coalition	An initiative by the World Economic Forum to decarbonize industrial sectors like steel. It has expanded to include 55 companies and nine countries committed to purchasing industrial materials and transport from near-zero or zero-carbon suppliers.
Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative	Encourages governments to report environmental data and use low-emission and near-zero emissions cement/concrete and steel in construction projects. Nine countries, including the U.S., have joined and are set to declare their pledges.
SteelZero and ConcreteZero	Corporate partnerships under the Climate Group, with 25 companies in SteelZero and 22 in ConcreteZero, committed to using net-zero steel and low- and net-zero emission concrete and cement.
European Union	By 2030, the EU is expected to host nearly 50 green and low-carbon steel projects, driven by policies like the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
Sweden	Hybrit supplied Volvo with the first coal-free "green steel." H2 Green Steel is constructing a fossil fuel-free steel plant with a sustainable hydrogen facility in Sweden, aiming for eco-friendly steel production.

 

Innovations and Technological Advancements to Drive the Green Steel Market Growth

The digitalization and smart manufacturing techniques, including the use of AI and IoT, optimize green steel production processes, enhancing energy efficiency and minimizing waste. These technological strides, combined with supportive governmental policies and increasing corporate commitments to sustainability, are driving the green steel market towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

 

Three Decarbonizing Innovations Shaping the Green Steel

 

POSCO's HyREX technology represents a pioneering approach in green steelmaking, utilizing hydrogen as a reduction agent to drastically reduce carbon emissions. By replacing traditional fossil fuels in steel production, HyREX aims to achieve near-zero emissions. POSCO plans to scale up HyREX with a test facility expected by 2028 and aims for commercialization by 2030. This initiative aligns with POSCO's commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, transitioning existing blast furnaces to hydrogen reduction steelmaking. The HyIS Forum underscores POSCO's leadership in promoting global collaboration on hydrogen-based steelmaking technologies, positioning HyREX as a significant advancement in sustainable steel production.

 

High Initial Investment Required for Green Steel Production Creating Challenges for the Green Steel Market

The high initial investment for green steel production facilities stems from the need for advanced technologies, specialized infrastructure, and a shift from traditional fossil fuel-based systems. Setting up hydrogen-based direct reduction or electric arc furnaces requires substantial capital to develop and implement these cutting-edge methods. Additionally, integrating renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar power, into the energy-intensive steel production process adds to the costs. Retrofitting existing plants or building new ones involves significant expenditure on new machinery, training for workers, and modifying supply chains. This financial burden is a major barrier, making green steel more expensive to produce initially compared to conventional steel, thus impacting its competitive edge in the Green Steel market.

 

Green hydrogen remains too costly for ArcelorMittal’s EU plants, despite substantial subsidies. The high cost makes it uncompetitive internationally. ArcelorMittal aims to decarbonize using hydrogen but faces prices of €6-7/kg for European-produced H2, far above the €2/kg needed for cost-effective low-carbon steel. Importing green hydrogen, though cheaper in production, incurs significant transport costs, making it impractical. Consequently, despite EU grants totaling €1.65 billion, ArcelorMittal's green steel plants may not use green hydrogen for years, relying instead on imported direct reduced iron (DRI).

 

Green Steel Market Segment Analysis

Based on Production Technology: The market is segmented into Hydrogen-Based Steel Production, Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Biomass-Based Steel Production and Molten Oxide Electrolysis (MOE). The Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) segment dominated with the largest Green Steel Market share in 2023. Electric arc furnace (EAF)-based steel production is rising globally. Initially, EAFs accounted for about 25% of global steelmaking, but this has grown, reaching 30% (560 million tonnes) of global steel output in 2021. Planned EAF capacity surged to 43% of new capacity in 2023.

 

The International Energy Agency’s Net Zero by 2050 scenario targets 53% EAF-based steelmaking. Major steel producers like Tata Steel and British Steel are transitioning from blast furnaces to EAFs to reduce emissions. Despite a lower share, EAFs offer flexibility, efficiency, and significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions, utilizing steel scrap and green hydrogen-based sponge iron. China and India are also expanding their EAF capacities, with India targeting 35-40% EAF/induction furnace-based production by 2030.

Green Steel Market Regional Insights

Europe Green Steel Market dominated the global market in 2023 with the largest share. As per the study, the green steel pricing in the domestic flat product market reflects a consensus on the value of low-emission materials. The premium for CO2-reduced steel, mainly sourced from electric-arc furnaces (EAF), ranged from €200-300 per tonne as of June 8. Demand, driven by automotive sectors and impending legislation in construction, signals growing acceptance and willingness to pay higher prices for environmentally friendly steel. ArcelorMittal, based in Luxembourg, has secured funds for green steel initiatives in France in January 2024.

 

The company has agreed to invest €1.8 billion ($1.97 billion) to reduce greenhouse emissions at its steel plant in Dunkirk, northern France. The French government will provide a subsidy package of up to €850 million, approved by the European Commission. This financial support is expected to enable ArcelorMittal to purchase electric furnaces and establish a direct reduction plant, contributing to a 5.7% reduction in French industrial sector carbon emissions.

 

Asia Pacific Green Steel Market is expected to grow at a high rate during the forecast period. Nippon Steel is planning a $700 million 'Green Steel' project, aiming to replace coal with hydrogen to reduce emissions. Potential sites for this investment include Australia and Brazil. In the region, India is the key market for green steel. India is developing its unique pure-hydrogen-based DRI technology for green steel production, with the project report currently under ministerial review.

 

This process removes oxygen from iron ore using hydrogen instead of carbon-emitting fossil fuels, producing sponge iron, which is then used in electric arc furnaces to make steel. Various ministries, integrated and secondary steel makers, and the CSIR Lab are collaborating on a pilot plant under a consortium model. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has approved the scheme, focusing on capital grants and subsidized green hydrogen availability to support pilot projects under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

 

Green Steel Market Scope

Green Steel Market
Market Size in 2023	USD 2.4 Bn.
Market Size in 2030	USD 320.67 Bn.
CAGR (2024-2030)	101.23%
Historic Data	2018-2022
Base Year	2023
Forecast Period	2024-2030
	By Production Technology Hydrogen-Based Steel Production Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Biomass-Based Steel Production Molten Oxide Electrolysis (MOE)
	By End Use Industry Construction Automotive Energy Sector Manufacturing Consumer Goods
Regional Scope	North America- United States, Canada, and Mexico Europe – UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Russia, and Rest of Europe Asia Pacific – China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, ASEAN, Rest of APAC Middle East and Africa - South Africa, GCC, Egypt, Nigeria, Rest of the Middle East and Africa South America – Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America

 

Green Steel Market Players

1. POSCO International
2. Nucor Corporation (Nucor Tubular Products)
3. U.S. Steel Corporation
4. NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
5. Arcelor Mittal
6. Jindal Steel & Power Ltd.
7. Emirates Steel Arkan
8. Green Steel Group Inc.
9. H2 Green Steel
10. JFE Steel Corporation
11. Voestalpine AG
12. Salzgitter AG
13. SSAB
14. Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe
15. Tata Steel