#GreenJobs: Sustainability as a Vocation

Climate-neutral production will be a decisive factor in the energy transition.

At thyssenkrupp, we are already making every effort to ensure sustainable production in the future.

One thing is certain: Climate protection is the only way forward. We at thyssenkrupp are also taking responsibility and, in line with the Paris climate agreement, have set ourselves the target of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by around 30 percent. By 2050, we will have made our entire company completely climate-neutral. This means that our production processes will produce no climate-damaging emissions such as CO2.

To achieve our goals, we are relying on innovative technologies that are helping us to reduce our CO2 footprint today. With our Carbon2Chem project, we are already converting our emissions from steel production into valuable base chemicals. The CO2 is recycled and used instead of being released into the atmosphere. To avoid CO2 in the long term, we are transforming our steel production using hydrogen and will produce steel in a climate-neutral way in the future. At the same time, however, we are contributing to the production of green hydrogen as a supplier of multi-megawatt electrolysis plants and supporting the expansion of solar and wind power as a component manufacturer for renewable energy plants.

Young talents for a greener future

Nevertheless, it is a fact that behind the individual innovative technologies, there are many extraordinary employees who contribute to the energy transition every day. We spoke to three employees who are actively involved in our green technologies. What new career opportunities and research fields do they see in sustainable production?

Green jobs: When sustainability moves to the forefront

“I think that new jobs will emerge especially in the fields of research and development of hydrogen technology,” tells Ramona Gutkowski, Development Engineer in the R&D department for hydrogen electrolysis at thyssenkrupp Uhde Chlorine Engineers. As a key technology for decarbonizing industry, water electrolysis is going to be further optimized in the years ahead. This includes reducing manufacturing costs by fully automating the production and assembly processes. Therefore, in the future, plant operation and maintenance, in particular, will be areas of application for electrochemists, process engineers, and engineers who bring special expertise in the sustainable development of production and value chains.

Emre Ayrak, Product Design Engineer at thyssenkrupp Uhde Chlorine Engineers, also sees great potential for new career and research fields in hydrogen technology: "I'm sure that many new career opportunities and profiles will emerge along the entire hydrogen value chain at thyssenkrupp." After all, green hydrogen is gaining importance worldwide as an energy carrier and CO2-free raw material for the chemical industry. Demand for industrial electrolysis plants that enable economic production is also rising accordingly. It is hardly surprising, that new skilled workers are also needed for the expansion of further capacities.

Climate transformation as a driver for new work fields

For Lisa Semleit, junior engineer in sustainable steel production at thyssenkrupp Steel in Duisburg, climate transformation is also a great opportunity for new career fields. Due to the strong focus on research and development, several jobs will be created in the future that are not yet in existence today. New perspectives will develop, especially in the practical operation of climate-neutral plants. 

Lisa herself serves as a perfect example. Her team has only been in operation since 2019 and has been built up to reduce CO2 emissions in steel production. "Instead of blast furnaces and coal, direct reduction plants and hydrogen will accompany the path to steel in the future. I am looking forward to being able to accompany this technology change in the company from the very beginning," explains the engineer.

Lisa and her team evaluate ideas for reducing emissions and test them for feasibility. In doing so, she and her colleagues accompany the entire process - from research to the examination of funding and realization of sustainability concepts. "In November 2019, for example, thyssenkrupp injected hydrogen into one of its blast furnaces for the first time. That was a real milestone that our team accompanied," recalls the sustainability specialist.

Contributing to climate neutrality fills Lisa with pride: "I can definitely say: I have landed a really good job - and it is nice that it is so future-oriented."

Shaping the Future Together

The aim is to integrate sustainability as an integral part of our processes at thyssenkrupp. Because we also want sustainability to become common practice. That is why we need bright minds with fresh ideas like Ramona, Emre, and Lisa. If you are such a bright mind, check out our #GreenJobs here and apply now!