Wolfram accelerates sustainable production with green hydrogen

Wolfram Bergbau und Hütten AG, global specialist in high-quality tungsten powders, and regional energy supplier Energie Steiermark, have signed a long-term agreement to supply green hydrogen to Wolfram’s site in St Martin. The agreement was also signed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, which is subsidising the project, represented by the Federal Minister Construction is planned to begin in 2026, with commissioning targeted for late 2027. The project supports Austria’s ambition to strengthen its hydrogen economy and accelerate the transition of energy-intensive industries towards climate-friendly processes.

As part of the collaboration, Energie Steiermark will develop and operate a PEM electrolysis plant with a capacity of more than 5 MW, producing up to 750 tonnes of green hydrogen annually. A pipeline will connect the electrolysis plant in Bergla directly to the industrial area around St Martin, with Wolfram acting as the first pilot and anchor customer connected to the facility.

For Wolfram, as the anchor industrial customer of the project, the agreement provides a secure, long-term supply of green hydrogen essential for tungsten reduction and carburisation. The transition from grey to green hydrogen represents a major step in decarbonising Wolfram’s core production processes and supports its path toward net-zero emissions by 2050. Wolfram is part of the Sandvik Group, committed to targets in accordance with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). By switching to green hydrogen, Wolfram can reduce its CO₂ emissions directly contributing to its strategy and the Sandvik Group’s sustainability targets.

David Goulbourne, President of Wolfram Bergbau und Hütten AG, says: “Securing green hydrogen for our St Martin operations is a milestone for Wolfram. This partnership supports our net-zero ambition, strengthens our long-term supply security and embeds sustainable production directly into the heart of our value creation.”

Martin Graf and Werner Ressi, members of the board at Energie Steiermark, add: “With this large-scale green hydrogen project, we’re implementing our hydrogen strategy through concrete initiatives and building infrastructure that supports industrial decarbonisation in the region.”