Business School Case
Electra Steel is Sandeep Nijhawan’s brainchild to decarbonize the process of making steel by creating green iron ore. The incumbent steel industry is a big offender when it comes to greenhouse gases, emitting about 2 tonnes of CO2 produced for every tonne of steel, and a major part of emissions-producing steel production hinges on the processing of iron, so Electra’s strategy is to address this part. This case discusses the steel manufacturing industry and the process of converting iron to steel as well as highlights sources of emissions. Students will learn about Electra’s initial startup technology conundrums and the breakthrough that allowed them to reduce emissions while maintaining a sustainable business model. Students will be asked to consider Electra’s strategic future in light of external factors and market appetite.
Access case via CaseWorks.
Citation:
Wagner, Gernot. “Electra: Decarbonizing steelmaking through carbon-free iron.” Columbia CaseWorks #240303 (Spring 2024).