Steel manufacturer Ovako, Volvo Group and key partners, including Hitachi Energy, Stegra and Nel Hydrogen, with support from the Swedish Energy Agency, have launched a groundbreaking initiative to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and develop local industrial hydrogen production. Ovako’s new hydrogen plant in Hofors, Sweden, is the first in the world to use hydrogen for heating steel prior to rolling, advancing climate-neutral steel production. The surplus green hydrogen produced will power Volvo Group’s fuel cell vehicles and be used at a new hydrogen filling station adjacent to the plant. This collaboration enhances cost efficiency by recycling hydrogen by-products into energy, playing a vital role in Volvo Group’s shift towards electrification for long-haul and heavy duty applications while also serving as a fossil-free fuel for combustion engines.Collaboration is key, and we need a new form of collaboration. Partnership is the new leadership – this is not just a belief; it’s a proven strategy. We know this approach works. Martin Lundstedt, President and Chief Executive Officer, Volvo Group Local industrial clean hydrogen production Source: OvakoCASE STUDY 19 Pioneering clean hydrogen production for sustainable steel and transport Accelerating climate-neutral steel production Providing the transport sector with clean hydrogenStabilizing the future power gridGenerating district heating for nearby communities Each of the above case studies demonstrates how collaboration within clusters and their broader clean energy value chains function as a method to overcome the infrastructure challenge, achieving outcomes that would be unattainable in isolation. At DHL, we are strongly committed to partnerships that drive the energy transition. Our recent collaboration with Envision, which focuses on innovations such as sustainable aviation fuel and the development of Net Zero Industrial & Logistic Parks, is a testament to this commitment. However, the energy transition requires an even more comprehensive collaboration across the entire energy value chain, focusing on energy demand as well as energy supply and optimized grid management to further drive the decarbonization of our transports. These partnerships are essential to advancing sustainable energy solutions and we are committed to fostering many more. Tobias Meyer, Chief Executive Officer, DHL Group Unleashing the Full Potential of Industrial Clusters: Infrastructure Solutions for Clean Energies 39

Unleashing the Potential of Industrial Clusters 2025