Salzgitter Flachstahl steel plant , also known as Glocke Salzgitter, Salzgitter steel works, is a steel plant in Salzgitter, Niedersachsen, Germany that operates electric arc furnace (EAF), basic oxygen furnace (BOF), blast furnace (BF), and direct reduced iron (DRI) technology.
Location
The map below shows the exact location of the plant in Salzgitter, Niedersachsen, Germany:
Location: Eisenhüttenstraße 99, 38239 Salzgitter, Germany
Coordinates (WGS 84 ): 52.161794, 10.409371 (exact)
Background
Carbon Offsets
In 2009, Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH was the largest purchaser of offsets in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.[ 1] Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH purchased 40,000 offsets from an Indian steel project, an example that the campaign group Sandbag (now Ember) used in its report on how European companies were directly subsidizing competing industries in developing countries (see Clean Development Mechanism ).[ 1]
Salzgitter Hydrogen Project
Salzgitter Flachstahl has launched a project called "Windwasserstoff Salzgitter" (or "Salzgitter Hydrogen") to offset CO2 emissions from their steel production.[ 2] A partner company, Avacon , plans to build seven wind turbines on the Salzgitter Flachstahl site, which will be used to power Salzgitter Flachstahl's PEM (Proton-Exchange Membrane) electrolysis plant (capacity of approximately 400 Nm3 /hour).[ 2] Salzgitter Flachstahl will use hydrogen from this PEM electrolyzer to produce SALCOS® (Salzgitter Low CO2 Steel) as early as 2020.[ 2]
In December 2020, Salzgitter Group announced that they commissioned Tenova for construction of µDRAL, a demonstration plant for the production of Direct Reduced Iron, using up to 100% hydrogen as reducing agent. The plant is based on the ENERGIRON technology and will be installed on the premises of the Salzgitter steel mill at Salzgitter in Germany. The µDRAL will have a nominal production capacity of 100 kilograms per hour and will be operated with hydrogen and natural gas showing the flexibility of the technology in terms of fluctuating availabilities of reducing agents, including 100% hydrogen. The DRI produced by µDRAL will be both used in the blast furnace process to save injected coal and in the electric arc furnace of the Peine plant.[ 3]
In February, 2025, the company began construciton of a 100MW electrolysis plant for the production of green hydrogen. The plant will be one of the largest in Europe and, starting in 2026, will generate around 9,000 tonnes of green hydrogen a year.[ 4] However, it is estimated that Salzgitter will need 150,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually for SALCOS phase 1, and hydrogen deliveries cannot begin until 2029 when the comany is connected to the new hydrogen pipelines that the German government is planning to build.[ 5]
Transition
Salzgitter Flachstahl has announced a plan to cut emissions from the plant by 95% by 2033; they will have 3 phases, phasing out BF capacity entirely by 2033, replacing them by hydrogen-based direct reduction process. The first of these plants is expected to begin operations in 2026.[ 6] The project involves two direct reduction plants and three electric arc furnaces to replace existing blast furnaces and basic oxygen converters.[ 7] Phase 1 of the transition plan involves the construction of a DRI plant, an EAF, and a 100MW electrolysis plant. In 2023, Salzgitter awarded a contract to Tenova, Danieli, and DSD Steel group for the construction of the first DRI plant. Financing for the entirety of phase 1 was secured via subsidies from the Federal Republid of Germany and the State of Lower Saxony, totally around €1 billion.[ 8] Additionally, in 2024, Salzgitter signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Iberdrola to supply 900GWh of solar power over the coarse of 15 years from Iberdrola Deutschland's 60 MW PV plant.[ 9]
Ownership Tree
This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker , a project of Global Energy Monitor.
Low-emissions/green steelmaking
This steel plant is associated with a green steel project tracked in the Green Steel Tracker . Details about the project are included below.
Table 1: Green Steel Project Details
All references for the above data are available in the Green Steel Tracker .
Project 1
Project 2
Project 3
Project 4
Project 5
Project name
Salzgitter GrInHy2.0
Salzgitter WindH2 Demonstration
Salzgitter μDRAL (Demo for SALCOS)
Salzgitter GrInHy3.0
Salzgitter SALCOS
Company
Salzgitter Group
Salzgitter Group
Salzgitter Group
Salzgitter Group
Salzgitter Group
Company has climate goals?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Location
Salzgitter, Germany
Salzgitter, Germany
Salzgitter, Germany
Salzgitter, Germany
Salzgitter, Germany
Project website
Site
Site
Site
Site
Site
Project scale
Demo
Demo
Demo
Pilot
Full scale
Project status
Finalized (research & testing)
Finalized (research & testing)
Finalized (research & testing)
Announced
Announced
Year to be online
2021
–
2022
–
2033
Technology to be used
H2 Production
H2 Production
NG-DRI to H-DRI
H2 Production
H-DRI
Technology details
Green electricity electrolysis
Green electricity electrolysis
Flexible operation NG and H2
Green electricity electrolysis
H-DRI with green hydrogen + EAF
Iron production capacity (million tonnes per year)
Not applicable
Not applicable
0
Not applicable
2
Steel production capacity (million tonnes per year)
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
1
CO2 capture (million tonnes CO2 per year)
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Hydrogen generation capacity (MW)
0
2
Not applicable
1
100
Investment size (m USD)
6.5
60
16
Not stated
1721
Actual start year
2021
2021
2022
–
–
Partners
Sunfire GmbH, Paul Wurth S.A., Tenova S.p.A., CEA - Commissariat a l'Energie atomique
Avacon Natur GmbH, Siemens, Linde
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, Tenova
Sunfire, TU Bergakademie Freiberg
State of Lower Saxony, Federal Ministry for Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK), Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation
Date of announcement
3/14/2019
3/11/2021
5/17/2021
12/15/2023
9/15/2022
Plant Details
Table 2: General Plant Details
Start date
Workforce size
Power source
2001[ 10]
5906[ 11]
PPA for Nordlicht 1 offshore wind farm; Project to use wind energy for H2 to produce low CO2 steel; PPA for 80 MW of solar from Friesen Elektra; PPA for 126 GWh of clean energy per year generated at the Octopus solar power plant in Schibsdorf (Bradenburg); PPA for 900 GWh from Iberdrola solar; PPA for 120 GW of solar electricity from Energiekontor; PPA for 64 GWh/year from RWE Supply & Trading[ 12] [ 13] [ 14] [ 15] [ 16] [ 17] [ 18]
Table 3: Ownership and Parent Company Information
State-owned entity status
Parent company
Parent company PermID
Parent GEM entity ID
Owner
Owner company PermID
Owner GEM entity ID
Partial
Salzgitter AG
4295869182
E100001010315
Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH [100%][ 19]
4298547550
E100000003954 [100%]
Table 4: Process and Products
Table 5: Plant-level Crude Steel Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)
1 Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page for an explanation of the different capacity operating statuses.
Capacity operating status1
Basic oxygen furnace steelmaking capacity
Electric arc furnace steelmaking capacity
Nominal crude steel capacity (total)
announced
–
0[ 25]
0[ 25]
construction
–
1900[ 26] [ 27]
1900[ 26] [ 27]
operating pre-retirement
5200[ 25] [ 28]
–
5200[ 25] [ 28]
Table 6: Plant-level Crude Iron Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)
Table 7: Upstream Products Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)
Table 8: Actual Plant-level Crude Steel Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum)
Year
BOF production
Other/unknown steel production
Total (all routes)
2019
unknown
unknown
–
2020
unknown
unknown
–
2021
4300[ 11]
–[ 11]
4300[ 11]
2022
unknown
unknown
–
2023
unknown
–
–
2024
4700[ 11]
–[ 11]
4700[ 11]
Table 9: Actual Plant-level Crude Iron Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum)
Year
BF production
Other/unknown iron production
2019
unknown
unknown
2020
unknown
unknown
2021
unknown
unknown
2022
unknown
unknown
2023
unknown
–
2024
unknown
–
Unit Details
Table 10: Blast Furnace Details
Unit name
Status
Start date
Retired date
Furnace manufacturer and model
Current size
Current capacity (ttpa)
Decarbonization technology
Most recent relining
BF A
operating pre-retirement[ 28] [ 34]
1977[ 33]
2033[ 25] [ 35]
SMS group Paul Wurth Parallel Hopper Bell Less Top[ 36] [ 36]
2330.0 m3[ 32]
2000[ 31]
DRI from the plant's μDRAL demonstration plant, produced with hydrogen and natural gas, is used in the blast furnace to reduce coal use in the process[ 37] [ 38]
2023-11[ 39]
BF B
operating pre-retirement[ 28] [ 34]
1993[ 40] [ 41]
2027[ 42]
–
2530.0[ 32]
2190[ 32]
DRI from the plant's μDRAL demonstration plant, produced with hydrogen and natural gas, is used in the blast furnace to reduce coal use in the process[ 37] [ 38]
2015-11[ 43]
BF C
operating pre-retirement[ 28] [ 34]
1940[ 33] [ 41]
2030[ 25] [ 35]
–
1164.0 m3[ 33]
690[ 33]
DRI from the plant's μDRAL demonstration plant, produced with hydrogen and natural gas, is used in the blast furnace to reduce coal use in the process[ 37] [ 38]
2004-11[ 44]
Table 11: Direct Reduced Iron Furnace Details
Unit name
Status
Announced date
Construction date
Start date
Furnace manufacturer and model
Furnace type
Current capacity (ttpa)
unknown DRI (1)
construction[ 25] [ 45]
2015
2022[ 25]
2027[ 42]
Tenova, Danieli, DSD Steel Group Energiron ZR[ 46] [ 46]
shaft furnace[ 46]
2100[ 30] [ 29]
unknown DRI (2)
announced[ 25]
2015[ 25]
–
2028[ 47]
Tenova and Danieli Energiron ZR[ 48] [ 48]
shaft furnace[ 48]
0[ 25]
Table 12: Direct Reduced Iron Furnace Reductant Details
Unit name
Current or initial reductant
Gas reductant
Hydrogen reductant status
Future hydrogen reductant color
unknown DRI (1)
gas[ 46]
syngas (reformed methane)[ 46]
capable[ 46] [ 49]
green[ 46] [ 50] [ 49]
unknown DRI (2)
gas[ 46]
syngas (reformed methane)[ 46]
capable[ 49]
green[ 49]
Table 13: Electric Arc Furnace Details
Unit name
Status
Announced date
Construction date
Start date
Furnace manufacturer and model
Current capacity (ttpa)
Current size (tonnes)
unknown EAF (1)
construction[ 25] [ 45]
2015
2022
2027[ 25] [ 51]
Primetals Technologies Ultimate Furnace[ 52] [ 52]
1900[ 27] [ 26]
220.0[ 45] [ 26] [ 29] [ 53]
unknown EAF (2)
announced[ 25]
–
–
2028[ 47]
–
0[ 25]
–
unknown EAF (3)
announced[ 25]
2015
–
2033
–
0[ 25]
–
Table 14: Electric Arc Furnace Feedstock Details
Unit name
Scrap-based
% scrap
% DRI
% HBI
% sponge iron (unknown if DRI or HBI)
% basic/merchant pig iron
% granulated pig iron
% pig iron (unknown if basic/merchant or granulated)
% other iron
unknown EAF (1)
yes[ 54]
>0[ 54] [ 55]
>0[ 45] [ 54]
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown EAF (2)
yes[ 54]
>0[ 54]
>0[ 45] [ 54]
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown EAF (3)
yes[ 54]
>0[ 54]
>0[ 45] [ 54]
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
unknown
Table 15: Basic Oxygen Furnace Details
Unit name
Status
Current capacity (ttpa)
unknown BOF (1)
operating pre-retirement[ 25]
1900[ 25]
unknown BOF (2)
operating pre-retirement[ 25]
1650[ 28]
unknown BOF (3)
operating pre-retirement[ 25]
1650[ 28]
Articles and Resources
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of steel plants, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Iron and Steel Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
References
↑ 1.0 1.1 John Vidal, "Rich countries to pay energy giants to build new coal-fired power plants" , The Guardian, Jul. 14, 2010
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Windwasserstoff Salzgitter" - "Salzgitter Hydrogen" , Salzgitter Flachstahl, Retrieved on: Mar. 9, 2020
↑ H2 DRI Plant for Salzgitter Flachstahl in Germany , Strategic Research Institute, Dec. 18, 2020
↑ "Further SALCOS® Building Block: Cornerstone Laid for One of Europe's Largest Plants for the Production of Green Hydrogen" . Fuel Cell Works . February 21, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2025 .
↑ "Salzgitter AG: transitioning to green steel" . Flow . October 27, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2025 .
↑ "Our program SALCOS®" . SALCOS® . Retrieved 2023-08-07 .
↑ "Salzgitter orders EAF for green steel transformation" . Primetals . 25 August, 2022. Retrieved 10 October, 2023 . CS1 maint: url-status (link )
↑ "SALCOS® milestone reached - Salzgitter AG awards contract for direct reduction plant" . salzgitter-ag.com . May 24, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2025 .{{cite web }}: CS1 maint: url-status (link )
↑ Bhambhani, Anu (May 1, 2024). "Green Steel Production In Germany With Solar Power" . Taiyang News . Retrieved November 4, 2025 .
↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20210306171937/https://www.salzgitter-flachstahl.de/en/about-us/history.html . Archived from the original on 2021-03-06.
↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 https://web.archive.org/web/20220120161730/https://www.salzgitter-flachstahl.de/en/about-us.html . Archived from the original on 2022-01-20.
↑ "Salzgitter Secures Supply of Solar-Generated Electricity" . www.aist.org . Archived from the original on 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-01-11 .
↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240509181009/https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/salzgitter-inks-green-electricitysupply-deal-with-iberdrola-1338570.htm . Archived from the original on 2024-05-09.
↑ "Salzgitter to procure green electricity from Energiekontor for low-carbon steelmaking" . www.steelorbis.com . Archived from the original on 2025-08-25. Retrieved 2024-12-12 .
↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20220121030115/https://salcos.salzgitter-ag.com/de/windh2.html . Archived from the original on 2022-01-21.
↑ https://www.aist.org/news/steel-news/2023/october/23-27-october-2023/salzgitter-signs-renewable-power-purchase-agreemen .
↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240309063605/https://gmk.center/en/news/salzgitter-signs-agreement-with-octopus-to-supply-green-electricity/ . Archived from the original on 2024-03-09.
↑ https://www.4coffshore.com/news/vattenfall-and-salzgitter-enter-into-offshore-wind-green-steel-electricity-partnership-nid30231.html .
↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240125061126/https://www.salzgitter-flachstahl.de/en/index.html . Archived from the original on 2024-01-25.
↑ 20.0 20.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20220318073718/https://www.salzgitter-flachstahl.de/en/products.html . Archived from the original on 2022-03-18.
↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20220528033117/https://www.salzgitter-flachstahl.de/en/about-us/current-key-data.html . Archived from the original on 2022-05-28.
↑ https://www.salcos-greensteel.com/index.html .
↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 (PDF) https://www.salzgitter-flachstahl.de/fileadmin/footage/MEDIA/gesellschaften/szfg/informationsmaterial/zertifikate/deu/Integriertes_Management/0026934-EMS-ENGUS-UKAS.pdf .
↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20220320123315/https://www.salzgitter-flachstahl.de/fileadmin/footage/MEDIA/gesellschaften/szfg/informationsmaterial/zertifikate/eng/Management_System/00009801-50001-ENGUS-UKAS.pdf . Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-03-20.
↑ 25.00 25.01 25.02 25.03 25.04 25.05 25.06 25.07 25.08 25.09 25.10 25.11 25.12 25.13 25.14 25.15 25.16 25.17 25.18 25.19 25.20 25.21 25.22 https://web.archive.org/web/20220219162010/https://salcos.salzgitter-ag.com/en/salcos.html . Archived from the original on 2022-02-19.
↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20220926064040/https://magazine.primetals.com/2022/08/26/salzgitter-orders-eaf-for-green-steel-transformation/ . Archived from the original on 2022-09-26.
↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20221207072717/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_5968 . Archived from the original on 2022-12-07.
↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 28.7 "Map of EU steel production sites" (PDF) . Eurofer . Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-03-18.
↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20220119220858/https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/metals/080421-miner-anglo-american-germanys-salzgitter-to-work-on-direct-reduction-iron-ore-supplies . Archived from the original on 2022-01-19.
↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20220319013454/https://www.aist.org/news/steel-news/2022/march/tenova-and-salzgitter-shake-hands-on-2-1-million-t .
↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 https://www.salzgitter-ag.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/details/blast-furnace-a-fired-up-again-after-relining-21295.html .
↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 https://www.yumpu.com/de/document/read/5120263/10044-kb-salzgitter-flachstahl-gmbh .
↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 33.5 (PDF) https://www.psimetals.de/fileadmin/files/downloads/PSI_BT/Events/2011/UserGroup/Presentations/2_2_PSImetals_at_Salzgitter.pdf .
↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 (PDF) https://www.salzgitter-ag.com/fileadmin/footage/MEDIA/SZAG/investor_relations/praesentationen/2021/2021-07-20-SZAG-Presentation-of-the-Group.pdf .
↑ 35.0 35.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20221007183335/https://www.salzgitter-flachstahl.de/en/news/details/green-light-for-green-steel-19904.html . Archived from the original on 2022-10-07.
↑ 36.0 36.1 https://www.sms-group.com/press-and-media/press-releases/press-release-detail/modernization-of-blast-furnace-a-at-salzgitter-flachstahl-ag-successfully-completed-by-sms-group .
↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20220526202625/https://tenova.com/newsroom/latest-tenova/h2-dri-plant-salzgitter-flachstahl-germany . Archived from the original on 2022-05-26.
↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20221109095532/http://hydrogen-central.com/salzgitter-steel-production-hydrogen-natural-gas/ . Archived from the original on 2022-11-09.
↑ https://eurometal.net/salzgitter-readies-last-ever-blast-furnace-reline/, https://www.aist.org/news/steel-news/2024/january/1-5-january/salzgitter-announces-completion-of-blast-furnace-r https://www.aist.org/news/steel-news/2023/august/21-25-august/salzgitter-commences-reline-of-blast-furnace, https://eurometal.net/salzgitter-readies-last-ever-blast-furnace-reline/, https://www.aist.org/news/steel-news/2024/january/1-5-january/salzgitter-announces-completion-of-blast-furnace-r . ;
↑ https://www.salzgitter-ag.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/details/campaign-life-completed-blast-furnace-b-to-be-thoroughly-modernized-4864.html .
↑ 41.0 41.1 https://docplayer.net/53098253-Fig-1-the-salzgitter-blast-furnaces.html .
↑ 42.0 42.1 https://eurometal.net/salzgitter-delays-green-steel-plan-amid-economic-regulatory-headwinds/ .
↑ https://www.salzgitter-flachstahl.de/en/news/details/salzgitter-flachstahl-successfully-completes-investment-project-5613.html https://www.salzgitter-ag.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/details/campaign-life-completed-blast-furnace-b-to-be-thoroughly-modernized-4864.html, https://www.salzgitter-flachstahl.de/en/news/details/salzgitter-flachstahl-successfully-completes-investment-project-5613.html . ;
↑ (PDF) https://www.psimetals.de/fileadmin/files/downloads/PSI_BT/Events/2011/UserGroup/Presentations/2_2_PSImetals_at_Salzgitter.pdf https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293474189_Blast_furnace_hearth_campaigns_with_different_hearth_designs_at_Salzgitter_Flachstahl, https://www.psimetals.de/fileadmin/files/downloads/PSI_BT/Events/2011/UserGroup/Presentations/2_2_PSImetals_at_Salzgitter.pdf . ;
↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 45.5 https://web.archive.org/web/20220926132401/https://salcos.salzgitter-ag.com/en/mydral.html . Archived from the original on 2022-09-26.
↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 46.4 46.5 46.6 46.7 46.8 "Energiron® direct reduction plant contracted by Salzgitter AG represents a SALCOS® milestone reached" . tenova.com . 2023-05-24. Archived from the original on 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-01-10 .
↑ 47.0 47.1 https://gmk.center/en/posts/major-pause-in-eu-steel-industry-decarbonization-projects/ .
↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 https://www.aist.org/salzgitter-selects-energiron-dr-for-hydrogen-ready-dri-plant?utm .
↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20220926132400/https://salcos.salzgitter-ag.com/en/windh2.html . Archived from the original on 2022-09-26.
↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240509181056/https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/germanys-salzgitter-to-procure-green-hydrogen-from-uniper-se-1337276.htm . Archived from the original on 2024-05-09.
↑ https://salcos.salzgitter-ag.com/en/index.html .
↑ 52.0 52.1 https://new.abb.com/news/detail/109420/primetals-technologies-selects-abb-electric-arc-furnace-equipment-for-hydrogen-powered-steel-project .
↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230528151547/https://www.aist.org/news/steel-news/2023/may/22-26-may-2023/salzgitter-selects-energiron-dr-for-hydrogen-ready . Archived from the original on 2023-05-28.
↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 54.4 54.5 54.6 54.7 54.8 https://web.archive.org/web/20240809182422/https://www.salzgitter-flachstahl.de/en/news/details/salzgitter-group-expanding-regional-scrap-recycling-20490.html . Archived from the original on 2024-08-09.
↑ https://www.salzgitter-flachstahl.de/en/news/details/ground-breaking-ceremony-for-large-scale-shredder-plant-in-salzgitter-24661.html .
Resources