Stegra: Green Hydrogen Steel

Climate knowledge Initiative

In February 2021, Dr. Maria Persson Gulda joined Harald Mix and Carl-Erik Lagercrantz to build the world’s first full-size, zero-carbon steel plant using green hydrogen, a venture that would be potentially the biggest transformation in the centuries-old steel industry has seen. As chief technology officer and chief project officer, Gulda’s role was to design the production plant. In this case, students will learn about the $3 trillion global steel industry, which is not only a huge driver of the world economy but also a major supplier of materials for the renewable energy industry. Students will step into Maria Gulda’s shoes as she navigates the many issues and hurdles ahead of her, including the regulatory and geopolitical considerations, the technological changes and updates needed, creating partnerships with the right capital providers, as well as the specifics of building a brand-new clean production facility in Boden, Sweden. Students will be asked to think critically about the use of green hydrogen in manufacturing, the roles that different stakeholders like the government play, and the strategic considerations that underpin this massive decarbonization effort.