The project addresses the steel industry's shift away from traditional coal-fired blast furnaces, which currently account for significant carbon emissions. By focusing on the SSAB Raahe steel mill, researchers aim to prove that electric and hydrogen-based production can maintain high quality and delivery capacity without relying on fossil fuels. Petri Sulasalmi, lead researcher at the University of Oulu, noted that the transformation requires a complete rethink of the production chain, from ironmaking to final rolling, rather than simple equipment replacement.

Strategic Resources will provide material from its Mustavaara project in northern Finland for the program's direct reduction testing. CEO Sean Cleary stated that the selection validates the site's high-grade assets and their role in the evolving green supply chain. Given that the steel industry remains one of Finland's largest emission sources, successful implementation at a single mill could reduce national carbon dioxide output by as much as 7 percent.