New Policy Brief on EU green iron imports for a more competitive steel industry and accelerated decarbonisation

A new Policy Brief by Hilton Trollip (IDDRI), Nicolas Berghmans (IDDRI), and Gauri Khandekar (VUB) suggests that green iron imports rooted in comparative advantages of different geographies are technically achievable and economically sound. Lower EU prices of green iron, green hydrogen and green electricity as economic inputs result in:

• Enhanced Competitiveness of the EU steel sector, downstream industries, and overall European economy.
• Stimulated economic development and jobs.
• Accelerated and lower cost decarbonization and energy transition in EU and globally.
• Increased energy security: GH2 embodied in HBI is easier import and store than pure GH2 and carriers such as ammonia.
• Potential negative impacts of reduced investments/jobs in the primary iron stage in the steel production chain is outweighed by benefits in the rest of the steel industry and economy.

More details can be found in the full policy brief here.