Google Teams Up with Stegra on Green Steel Production
Google has signed an agreement with Swedish steel producer Stegra to support production at its planned large-scale, green hydrogen-based steel plant in Boden, Sweden. This move is part of Google's effort to reduce emissions associated with data centre construction.
Unlike conventional steel production, which relies heavily on coal to process iron, Stegra plans to use renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen that will react with iron ore. This process could reduce emissions by up to 95% compared with conventional blast furnace steelmaking.
The resulting steel is designed to meet the International Energy Agency's definition of near-zero emissions steel. Google said it will receive environmental attribute certificates linked to a portion of up to 91,000 metric tonnes of steel produced during the plant's first year.