Austrian steelmaker voestalpine is investing €1.5 billion in a major transformation of its steel production facility in Linz. The centrepiece of the project is a new electric arc furnace (EAF), which is expected to begin operating in 2027 and will produce steel using electricity instead of coal-based blast furnace technology.
Part of the company’s “greentec steel” strategy, the project is expected to reduce voestalpine’s CO₂ emissions by around 30%, equivalent to roughly 5% of Austria’s total emissions. To support the new furnace, significant upgrades to the site's electricity infrastructure have been completed, including a new 220-kV power connection. Around 550 companies are involved in the project, with approximately 90% of suppliers based in Austria. Once operational, the new furnace will allow the shutdown of Blast Furnace 5 by the end of 2027.
