The transformation project kicked off in 2023 with the groundbreaking ceremony for the electric arc furnace. Since then, work has been ongoing at the site. Currently, around 300 employees are working on eleven sub-projects. The scope of work ranges from nearly completed civil engineering work to ongoing activities on the electric arc furnace itself and the new scrap hall.
Since summer 2025, the central plant components for the EAF have also been delivered. At the same time, the expansion of the power connection is underway: The construction of the 220-kV power line is an essential component in ensuring the future operation of the furnace with renewable electricity. The installation of the so-called doghouse and the furnace hall has already been completed, and assembly of the material-handling tower has also begun.
These figures illustrate the scale of the infrastructure overhaul required to transform steel production.
Starting in 2027, 850,000 tons of CO/sub>-reduced steel will be produced annually in Donawitz in the new electric arc furnace. The EAF primarily uses scrap as a raw material and is powered by green electricity. Together with the second electric arc furnace in Linz, Donawitz forms a central component of the greentec steel roadmap.
At full capacity, greentec steel will enable group-wide savings of around four million tons of CO/sub> per year. This is equivalent to approximately six round-the-world flights per employee—a benchmark that makes the program’s climate impact tangible.
The current project status shows: greentec steel in Donawitz is progressing according to schedule.
Within the framework of our focus greentec steel, we provide an overview of our concrete steps on the way towards long-term green steel production and the innovative processes we are using on this way. We provide information about the challenges we face and the breakthrough technologies we are already researching today in order to achieve our goal of steel production with net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. funded by the BMK’s environmental support program.
Die voestalpine ist ein weltweit führender Stahl- und Technologiekonzern mit kombinierter Werkstoff- und Verarbeitungskompetenz. Die global tätige Unternehmensgruppe verfügt über rund 500 Konzerngesellschaften und -standorte in mehr als 50 Ländern auf allen fünf Kontinenten. Sie notiert seit 1995 an der Wiener Börse. Mit ihren Premium-Produkt- und Systemlösungen zählt sie zu den führenden Partnern der Automobil- und Hausgeräteindustrie sowie der Luftfahrt- und Öl- & Gasindustrie und ist darüber hinaus Weltmarktführer bei Bahninfrastruktursystemen, bei Werkzeugstahl und Spezialprofilen. Die voestalpine bekennt sich zu den globalen Klimazielen und verfolgt mit greentec steel einen klaren Plan zur Dekarbonisierung der Stahlproduktion.