Welcome to the second issue of our newsletter!

Our team has been working hard to keep the momentum going, and we’re excited to share the progress we’ve made. Every step brings us closer to our goals, and we’re proud of how far we’ve come.

There’s still plenty ahead, and we’re continuing to push forward with the same passion and dedication.

Take a moment to discover what we’ve been up to and get a glimpse of what’s coming next!

The EU-CHINA Bridge Team

As part of the EU–CHINA BRIDGE project, technology inventories have been developed for near-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emission technologies for steelmaking and petrochemical production. These industries are energy-intensive with high GHG emissions as well as important economic drivers whose transformation requires innovative technologies and effective industrial policies.

Discover more:

https://eu-china-bridge.eu/index.php/news-events/inventories-low-emission-technology-options-industry

In order to define the scenario narratives and modelling assumptions for analysing low-carbon transitions in the EU and China, E3M and ICCS organised a co-creation online workshop in the context of the EU–CHINA BRIDGE project. The workshop took place in April 2025 and engaged representatives from European Commission services, international institutions, research and academia, industries, think tanks, and NGOs. Stakeholder engagement was based on a structured approach that combined real-time prioritisation and facilitated group feedback.

Uncover more details:

https://eu-china-bridge.eu/news-events/co-creating-scenario-narratives-low-carbon-transitions-eu-and-china

The stakeholder workshop “Scaling Pathways for Green Steelmaking in Europe with Hydrogen Direct Reduction of Iron Ore” took place on 19 March 2025 as part of the EU CHINA BRIDGE project. The online workshop brought together experts from the Swedish and German steel and hydrogen sectors in particular to discuss the challenges of green steel production.

‘Deep dives’ within the workshop focussed on critical aspects such as building the necessary ecosystem for the broad introduction of DRI in Europe and the effective linkage with hydrogen and energy systems. Another focus was on the concept of ‘renewables pull’, which might result in relocation of iron production to regions with favourable renewable energy conditions in the future. The role of natural gas as a bridging technology for DRI plants in the transition period was also discussed, taking into account the changed geopolitical situation and volatile energy prices in recent years.

The discussion shed light on the complexity of the task to scale up the steelmaking route based on hydrogen direct reduction of iron ore (H2-DRI). From a demand side perspective, the need for offtake agreements was highlighted, initiated for example through initiatives such as the First Movers Coalition and Steel Zero. It was further highlighted that OEMs, as relevant players along the steel value chain, must be an integral part of the discussion on green steel. With the needs of steel plant operators in mind, it was emphasized that sufficient availability of renewable electricity as well as hydrogen at competitive prices is one of the key factors for a green transition.

However, the participants agreed that several of the major challenges facing the industry are not related to green steel production or decarbonisation itself: challenges such as overcapacity in the global steel market, inflation or high and rising construction costs are not unique problems for green technologies, but would equally exist if the conventional production system were to be retained.

Find out more:

https://eu-china-bridge.eu/news-events/workshop-report-scaling-pathways-green-steelmaking-europe

Deliverable 6.1 sets out the scenario framework and modelling assumptions developed within the EU–CHINA BRIDGE project to support the analysis of low-carbon transitions in the EU and China. It draws directly on stakeholder input from the project’s third co-creation cycle, including the April 2025 workshop, which engaged experts from European Commission, international organisations, academia, industry, NGO and think tanks. Through a structured and participatory process, five priority themes were identified: (1) geopolitical tensions and trade fragmentation; (2) EU–China cooperation on green technologies and decarbonisation; (3) socioeconomic and distributional impacts of the net-zero transition; (4) industrial competitiveness under the EU Clean Industrial Deal; and (5) digitalisation and electrification driven by AI and data infrastructure. Stakeholders highlighted growing concerns around trade barriers, geopolitical instability, and unequal access to clean technologies. They stressed the need for socially inclusive transitions, and discussed the dual role of digital infrastructure as both a driver of electricity demand and a potential enabler of system optimisation and resilience, depending on governance and ownership.Building on these insights, the project developed a protocol for scenario construction, which led to a set of integrated storylines. These are grouped into four main scenarios that vary by climate policy ambition and level of international cooperation: Low-carbon Collaboration (S1), Low-carbon Nationalism (S2), Current Trends (S3), and Fossil Protectionism (S4). Additional variants explore equity outcomes, industrial competitiveness, and the energy system implications of digitalisation. The scenario framework is supported by harmonised assumptions on population, GDP, and technology costs, drawing from authoritative sources such as the IPCC, IEA and the EU reference scenario.

More information:

https://eu-china-bridge.eu/publications/deliverables

Here’s a look at what’s coming up in the next few months:

We’re planning two co-creation workshops with selected stakeholders this fall:

1. “Green Steelmaking in Europe with Hydrogen Direct Reduction of Iron Ore” – taking place on September 15.
2. “Upscaling of Pyrolysis for Chemical Recycling” – scheduled for September 17.

By September, the project will complete policy inventories for steel decarbonisation and chemical defossilisation in both the EU and China. The inventories will cover key recent policies, provide a brief introduction of each, and outline their transformative functions.

The project has reached its halfway milestone. This September, EU and Chinese partners will gather in Athens for the second General Assembly to review interim results and plan the next phase. The Assembly will also feature a specialized training session focused on modelling.

As we move forward, we remain committed to fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and making progress on both sides of the bridge between the EU and China.

We look forward to connecting with many of you at our upcoming workshops and events, and to continuing this important work together.

Thank you for being part of the EU–CHINA BRIDGE community!

The EU-CHINA BRIDGE Τeam!

Send us an email for any questions or express interest in the EU-CHINA BRIDGE research.

Funded by the European Union (EU), UK Research and Innovation UKRI (grant No 10132630), and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the EU, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), UKRI, and the Ministry of Science and Technology of PRC. The EU, UK, the PRC, and the granting authorities cannot be held responsible for these views and opinions.

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