Green Steel in Saxony: Feralpi Stahl and JUWI Cooperation Could Make Saxony a Pioneer in Climate-Friendly Steel

Riesa/Brandis (Germany) – In Saxony, Feralpi Stahl and JUWI are exploring whether locally generated wind and solar power could in the future supply the Riesa steel plant. A memorandum of understanding marks the potential start of closer cooperation, which could also provide additional momentum for the energy transition in the region.

The steel company Feralpi Stahl and project developer JUWI are evaluating whether planned JUWI wind farms in Central and Northern Saxony are economically and technically suitable to cover part of the energy needs of the energy-intensive steel plant. The cooperation is still in the assessment phase but could provide impulses for further industrial projects with renewable energy in Saxony.

Regional Green Electricity for Steel Production

Feralpi Stahl and JUWI are investigating whether regional wind and solar projects can contribute to a more climate-friendly electricity supply for steel production in Riesa. The basis is a newly signed memorandum of understanding, which outlines a feasibility assessment. Feralpi’s participation is conditional on the project proving economically viable. Both companies are expanding their existing strategies for decarbonization and the expansion of renewable energy, without yet making decisions on implementation. The two planned wind farms are expected to consist of five and six wind turbines, respectively, with each turbine generating around 20 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.

The Riesa steel plant, which has been operating since 1994 and employs around 850 people, is one of Saxony’s energy-intensive industrial facilities. The Feralpi Group aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Managing Director Uwe Reinecke emphasizes the importance of regional energy projects for this strategy: “We are consistently decarbonizing our production processes. The cooperation with Juwi represents another possible step on our path towards the main goal: to produce green steel in Riesa.” According to Reinecke, the ongoing investment of more than 220 million euros at the site underscores the company’s long-term commitment to steel production in Germany.

Since 2011, JUWI has been developing renewable energy projects in Saxony from its Brandis office. The first wind farms in the Central Saxony district could be connected to the grid from 2029 onwards.

JUWI CEO Christian Arnold sees a potential partnership with industry as an important perspective for regional energy projects: “The cooperation to supply an energy-intensive company can serve as a model for further projects in Germany and show that the transformation towards a climate-neutral heavy industry at the German location is possible.”

Local Value Creation and Impulses for Industrial Networks

In addition to climate protection aspects, both companies emphasize the economic significance of regional energy generation. The construction and operation of the wind and solar plants could generate more contracts for companies in Central and Northern Saxony. Regional electricity production is intended to replace energy imports while also increasing acceptance of renewable energy by making economic effects visible locally.

The cooperation between Feralpi Stahl and JUWI is part of the activities of the Energy and Hydrogen Alliance in the Meißen Industrial Arc, founded in 2022. Together with other regional large companies, Feralpi Stahl is working there on solutions for rising energy prices, supply security, and climate protection. The participating companies require around 2.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and about 1.4 billion kilowatt-hours of natural gas annually – a significant potential for the regional expansion of renewable energy.

Source: IWR Online, 17 Nov 2025