Green steel is not just an environmental effort – it is the next big business opportunity, and the world’s first large-scale green steel plant is currently being built in Boden.
At Boden Industrial Park, Europe’s most modern steelworks is currently under construction, where Stegra is preparing to change an entire industry. One of the Stegra team members behind the mission to shape the market for a brand new product is Julia Bramble, part of the Stegra sales team, with three decades of experience in the European steel industry.
– What used to be a sustainability goal has become a business strategy. Companies with high climate ambitions realize that they need to reduce emissions throughout the value chain – and steel is one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle, says Julia Bramble.
When markets change from within
Steel is one of the most widely used materials in the world – from cars, buildings and appliances to energy systems and infrastructure. This also means that the climate impact of traditional steel production is huge. With major brands like Mercedes and BMW now aiming for zero emissions, the question of steel’s origin becomes central.
– For those already using renewable electricity, the next logical step is to choose green steel.For many, steel is the most cost-effective way to reduce emissions.
Demand for green steel is growing rapidly and already exceeds available production. According to a study by Lund University green steel could become competitive in the EU as early as 2026, partly thanks to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Producers who do not switch will gradually pay more for their emissions – and this is reflected in the price of traditional steel.
– Whether you do something or not, steel becomes more expensive. The difference is that those who choose green steel are investing in future competitiveness,” she says.
Two values in one product
Stegra will produce flat steel, steel that is delivered in large steel coils and then further processed into products in sectors such as automotive, construction, energy and heavy transportation.
– Our customers are really buying two things: the steel itself and the reduced carbon footprint. The two values are linked. For many companies, it’s a way to meet their climate targets while strengthening their brand.
Of the approximately 150 million tons of steel produced in Europe each year, flat steel is the largest category.According to Julia Bramble, it is clear from the available forecasts that demand for green steel will be significantly higher than supply over the next five years.
Stegra recently moved up the timetable, which means that steel production will start around the turn of the year 26/27.
– It’s not a matter of hitting a button and then we’re in full production. For quite a long period, we will need to verify the quality and build up to produce volumes over time.
A long but necessary value chain
Green steelmaking is changing not only production – but also the supply chain. The steel that leaves Boden in the form of steel coils goes on to steel service centers, fabricators and component manufacturers before it becomes a finished product.
– The challenge is that everyone in the chain needs to understand the value of low emissions. It is not enough for a car manufacturer to have ambitious climate targets – their suppliers and steel processors also need to change their processes to make the final product completely green.
In traditional steelmaking, coal is used to separate oxygen from iron ore – producing carbon dioxide as a by-product. In Boden, hydrogen is used instead, and the residual product is water.
– By replacing coal with hydrogen, we remove the very source of CO2 emissions.
A society in motion
The establishment in Boden is about more than industry. It affects the whole town.
New businesses are setting up, and existing businesses are getting more customers. This applies not only to industry, but also to restaurants, shops and services – all the things that make a city vibrant.
Julia Bramble has seen it all before. During her nine years at Tata Steel in IJmuiden in the Netherlands, she experienced how a major industrial player can make an impact and create more jobs in the region.
– We used to talk about a multiplier effect. The plant employed around 9 000 people, but another 20 000 or so in the surrounding area had jobs that existed thanks to the steelworks, from suppliers to hairdressers and restaurants. It shows the power an industry can have when it becomes part of the community.
A new market is taking shape
For Julia Bramble, the mission is both challenging and inspiring: to create a market that does not yet exist.
– We are not just building a steel mill, we are building a new category of steel. There is a huge will. And that’s what makes this work so exciting.
When the first steel coils leave Boden, it marks not only the start of a new production – but the beginning of a new market.
