Austrian steelmaker Voestalpine AG has successfully produced the world’s first hydrogen-based green rail at its Donawitz plant, marking a major breakthrough in the global steel industry’s path toward decarbonization.
This innovative green rail was manufactured using a blend of steel scrap and hydrogen-reduced pure iron, the latter produced at Voestalpine’s HYFOR (Hydrogen-based Fine Ore Reduction) pilot plant. The feedstock was melted at the company’s TechMet research steelworks, then rolled into a wear-resistant rail at the Donawitz rail rolling mill. The final product was installed at Linz train station, serving as a real-world demonstration of sustainable rail technology.
"This achievement is a key milestone in our roadmap to decarbonize steel production," said Herbert Eibensteiner, CEO of Voestalpine. "We are investing in pioneering processes that redefine how steel is produced."
The project is part of Voestalpine’s broader sustainability strategy, with the company aiming to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As part of this effort, electric arc furnaces (EAFs) will be commissioned at both its Linz and Donawitz plants starting in 2027.
By introducing hydrogen-based steelmaking into rail production, Voestalpine has not only set a technological precedent but also sent a strong signal to the industry: green transformation is no longer a future vision, but a present reality.
VietnamSteel by Hoa Sen Group
