EC approves Swedish State aid for SSAB decarbonization

Green Forum
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €128 million Swedish measure to support SSAB in decarbonizing its steel production. The measure will contribute to the achievement of the European Green Deal and the Green Deal Industrial Plan targets, while also helping to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels and accelerate the green transition, in line with the REPowerEU Plan.”

Sweden notified the Commission of a €128 million measure to support SSAB's project to transition from the current coal-based steel production process in Luleå to a nearly zero-emission system. The measure will be made available through the Just Transition Fund.

The aid will take the form of a direct grant and will support the accelerated transition to an electric steel mill through the installation of an electric arc furnace, equipment for secondary metallurgy, and a caster. The electric arc furnace will operate using steel scrap and direct reduced iron produced using renewable hydrogen. The electric steel mill will have a capacity of 2.5 million tonnes of green slabs per year.

The measure will accelerate the project by three years and the new installation is envisioned to start producing green steel as of 2029. The measure allows for significant CO2 emission savings corresponding to three years of operation using fossil fuels. SSAB has committed to actively sharing the experience and technical know-how gained through the project with industry and academia.

The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU'), which enables EU countries to support the development of certain economic activities subject to certain conditions, and the Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy (‘CEEAG'), which allow Member States to support measures reducing or removing CO2 emissions.

The Commission found that:

The measure facilitates the development of an economic activity, namely steel production through low-carbon processes. At the same time, it supports the objectives of key EU policy initiatives such as the European Green Deal, the Green Deal Industrial Plan, and the REPowerEU Plan.
The aid has an ‘incentive effect', as the beneficiary would not carry out the investments in green steel production without public support.

The measure is necessary and appropriate to promote the production of green steel. In addition, it is proportionate, as the level of the aid corresponds to the effective financing needs.

The measure has sufficient safeguards to ensure that undue distortions of competition are limited. In particular, if the project turns out to be very successful in generating extra net revenues, the beneficiary will return part of the aid received to Sweden (claw-back mechanism). Moreover, the beneficiary will disseminate the technical know-how gained through the project.

The aid brings positive effects that outweigh any potential distortion of competition and trade in the EU.
On this basis, the Commission approved the Swedish measure under EU State aid rules.

RECOMMENDED
EC launches auction for renewable hydrogen production
Finance

EC launches auction for renewable hydrogen production

The Commission launched today the first auction under the European Hydrogen Bank to support the production of renewable hydrogen in Europe, with an initial €800 million of emissions trading revenues, channeled through the Innovation Fund.

Schneider Electric finalises acquisition of EcoAct
Industry

Schneider Electric finalises acquisition of EcoAct

Schneider Electric has announced that after entering into exclusive negotiations with Atos Group on July 3, 2023, it has finalized the acquisition of EcoAct SAS, a company that offers climate consulting and net zero solutions headquartered in Paris, France.

RECOMMENDED FROM THE HOME PAGE
Business

Engie Romania funds 5 green projects in Bucharest

Transformations in schools, the Botanical Garden, and the Circular Economy Center offer Bucharest residents direct opportunities for practical learning and active involvement in the community.

READ MORE
Green Forum  |  7 November, 2024 at 5:39 PM
Green Forum  |  7 November, 2024 at 5:39 PM