voestalpine greentec steel Donawitz: installation of the electric arc furnace completed

In the first half of 2027, voestalpine will partially convert production at its Donawitz site to electrified steelmaking. Once fully operational, it will be able to produce around 850,000 tons of CO2-reduced steel annually. The installation of the new electric arc furnace (EAF) has been largely completed, as scheduled, and in some areas cold commissioning is now beginning. This involves testing conveyor systems, hydraulic systems, electrical installations, cooling circuits and automation systems.

The electric arc furnace consists of several core components, such as a lower and an upper vessel and a rocker, as well as the associated infrastructure and utility systems (e.g. power lines). The nearly 900,000 individual components delivered weigh a total of around 8500 tons and were transported to the Donawitz site by ship, train and truck.

“With greentec steel, Austria’s largest climate protection program, in Linz and Donawitz we are right on schedule – both in terms of time and budget. The major construction and installation work will be completed in 2026, before the first melts take place in the new electric arc furnaces in Donawitz and Linz in the first half of 2027,” says Herbert Eibensteiner, CEO of voestalpine.

The electric arc furnace consists of several core components, such as a lower and an upper vessel and a rocker, as well as the associated infrastructure and utility systems

voestalpine is working together with more than 70 companies in Donawitz, some 90% of which are Austrian. Around 500 skilled workers are currently active on the construction site. Lead partner Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche is coordinating the installation of the core components of the electric arc furnace and its first operation. A range of companies in the fields of steel construction, piping construction, electrical engineering, automation, scaffolding, logistics, and civil engineering are also collaborating on the project.

The EAF was assembled in several steps. After pre-assembly, surveying and testing, the components were lifted into their final positions using heavy-haul transport vehicles and large cranes. This involved moving individual components weighing up to 94 tons. Cranes with lifting capacities of up to 650 tons were used for particularly demanding lifting operations.

“The installation and commissioning of the new EAF is technically extremely challenging and requires close collaboration between our specialists and partner companies. The fact that we are progressing according to schedule is the result of months of planning and successful cooperation with our project partner Danieli,” said Franz Kainersdorfer, head of the metal engineering division.

Cold commissioning as the next milestone

The cold commissioning marks another important milestone. This requires putting central infrastructure systems into operation, such as the electrical power supply and utility services. During the cold commissioning, all system components are tested as an integrated system for the first time. This involves checking mechanical functions, utility and piping systems, as well as sensors, actuators and control systems. Extensive testing of the automation and safety systems will also be conducted to ensure the plant is optimally prepared for the start of production. Only when all systems are working together flawlessly will the next step toward the start of production be taken. This step is scheduled for the first half of 2027.

Further expansion planned for Donawitz

As reported, the EAF facility which is scheduled to begin operations next year will be expanded by 2030, subject to outstanding funding issues. Part of the expansion investment of approximately €100 million will be used to further expand the power supply, to set up a third secondary metallurgy line, and to expand scrap logistics, among others. This step would allow the Donawitz site to fully transition to electrified steel production from 2030.

In the first half of 2027, voestalpine will partially convert production at its Donawitz site to electrified steelmaking