A pilot project led by EMSTEEL, a major steel and building materials company in the UAE, and Masdar, a leading clean energy company, has successfully used green hydrogen in steel production. This project, located in Abu Dhabi, is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region and aims to reduce the carbon footprint of the steel industry by substituting natural gas with green hydrogen during the iron extraction process.
The hydrogen used in the project has been certified by Avance Labs under the ISO 19870 methodology, with Bureau Veritas providing third-party assurance. This initiative aligns with the UAE's broader decarbonization strategies, supporting its ambition to become a significant producer of green steel and a leader in hydrogen technology. Steel production is a key industry in the UAE but is known for its high carbon emissions, which account for about 7-8% of global CO2 emissions. The use of green hydrogen has the potential to cut emissions by up to 95%.
The pilot project supports the UAE's objectives outlined in initiatives such as the National Green Certificates Program launched by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, which promotes sustainable building practices. EMSTEEL's Group CEO, Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, emphasized the company’s commitment to decarbonization and highlighted that current use of clean energy exceeds 80%, contributing to a 45% reduction in carbon intensity compared to the global average.
“We believe that green hydrogen is the future of sustainable steel production, and this pilot project is proof that it is possible to innovate while protecting our environment,” said Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi. “Our aim is to inspire and pave the way for other industries to follow suit in reducing emissions.”
Masdar’s CEO, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, reiterated the importance of green hydrogen in reducing emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, including steel production, noting that renewable energy alone is insufficient to meet global decarbonization targets. “This successful project showcases how collaborative efforts can bring real change. By combining our expertise, we’re demonstrating that sustainable steel production is not just a vision but a viable reality.”
This project is part of Abu Dhabi’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Policy and the UAE National Hydrogen Strategy, which seeks to position the UAE as a leading global producer of low-carbon hydrogen by 2031. Both EMSTEEL and Masdar have extensive backgrounds in sustainability efforts, with Masdar having engaged in renewable energy projects in over 40 countries and setting a target of producing 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen per year by 2030.
Source and Photo: Emsteel
