[ PRODUCTION ]
driving industrialization and ensure that Europe can lead the transition to low-carbon steel without sacrificing competitiveness.
With an initial investment of € 1.65 billion and more than 1,100 direct jobs projected at full operational capacity, Hydnum Steel is more than just a steel plant: it is part of a broader industrial, economic, and social transformation for the province of Castilla-La Mancha and for Spain as a whole.
Responding to a strategic need Today, the Iberian Peninsula imports between 5 and 6 million tonnes of flat steel per year, while the EU carries a deficit of over 11 million tonnes. This not only poses a risk to the trade balance and industrial employment but also creates dependence on external markets with lower environmental traceability.
As demand for clean steel grows, especially in sectors governed by stringent climate policies such as automotive and construction, Europe must strengthen its internal capacity to produce low-carbon steel competitively. Hydnum Steel arrives at precisely the right moment to fill this gap, leveraging cuttingedge technology, abundant clean energy, and a long-term vision focused on sustainability and strategic self-sufficiency.
Zero emissions as an operational standard
Hydnum Steel integrates a suite of innovative technologies that enable the elimination of emissions in its production process. Our model is based on an electric arc furnace( EAF) powered by renewable electricity, and we foresee the application of direct reduced iron( DRI) technology using green hydrogen as the availability of this energy vector increases.
Additionally, we employ the Endless Strip Production( ESP) process, which combines casting and rolling in a single step, significantly reducing energy consumption and eliminating the use of natural gas. Our goal is to achieve true zero emissions, compared to approximately 1,800 kg per tonne of a conventional blast furnace.
Spain offers us a unique competitive advantage: some of the lowest renewable energy costs in Europe, abundant installed wind and solar capacity, and rapidly expanding green hydrogen infrastructure. Our renewable electricity will be sourced through long-term power purchase agreements( PPAs) and direct connections to nearby solar and wind farms. This approach not only benefits the environment but also reduces exposure to the volatility of fossil-fuel prices.
Circular economy by design
Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond carbon. From the design stage, we have conceived Hydnum Steel as a plant capable of optimizing every resource and minimizing waste to the greatest extent possible.
One of the most critical aspects is water management. Spain is a water-stressed country, and responsible steelmaking cannot ignore this reality. That is why we will use treated urban and industrial wastewater as our primary source. This water will pass through advanced filtration and recycling systems provided by Russula, a company specializing in industrial solutions. The result will be a near-100 % reuse rate within our industrial process, drastically reducing freshwater withdrawal and eliminating effluent discharges, achieving a true zero liquid discharge model.
For solid residues, we have designed valorization processes that will allow by-products such as slag to be repurposed as construction aggregates, cement feedstock, or insulating
24 Green Steel World | Issue 18 | June 2025