Spain has recently received approval for a €60m grant from EU funds to establish a hydrogen-powered steel mill in Puertollano, a town located in the province of Castile–La Mancha, approximately 100km south of Madrid. The project, deemed one of the 'five most important industrial decarbonisation initiatives in the world' by the World Economic Forum, is spearheaded by Hydnum, a company dedicated to constructing the zero-carbon plant. The primary objective of the plant is to utilize green hydrogen for the production of sponge iron, which will be combined with scrap in an arc furnace to generate up to 1.5 million tonnes of rolled steel annually, with plans for future expansion to 2.6 million tonnes. Hydnum envisions a cutting-edge control system for the plant, integrating computer vision, digital twins, predictive analytics, and AI to enhance safety, efficiency, and quality. Despite the advanced digital control system, the project is expected to create 1,000 direct job opportunities. Additionally, Hydnum has secured a substantial seven-year, €1bn deal to supply steel to Spanish fabricator Gonvarri Industries, ensuring a level of stability amidst industry challenges like high energy costs and stiff Chinese competition. The collaboration for the steel mill project includes partners like Helvella Capital, Siemens, ABEI Energy, and Russula, aiming to revolutionize the steel industry with sustainable practices and innovative solutions. The initiative, awaiting regulatory approvals, is set to commence construction by the end of 2025 under Spain's PERTE programme, supported by the EU's Next Generation fund dedicated to aiding member states in post-pandemic recovery and transformation efforts.