US engineer Jacobs has been selected by ThyssenKrupp to manage the decarbonisation of Europe’s largest steel mill in Duisburg, western Germany.

The project involves substituting coke blast furnaces with hydrogen-powered electric smelters. When operational in 2026, the site will produce 2.5 million tonnes of direct reduced iron annually and reduce carbon emissions by up to 3.5 million tonnes a year.

ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe plans to become fully climate-neutral by 2045.

Jacobs’ role involves organising the engineering services, assembly and logistics, construction and interface management across the project teams.

Patrick Hill, Jacobs’ executive vice president, said: “Companies like ThyssenKrupp and Jacobs are leading the way in global climate transformation with a focus on decarbonising the industrial sector.

“This is a major project with a complex undertaking delivered through an integrated German and international team. The implementation of this emerging technology is an important step in transforming the industry and supply chain in Europe and beyond.”