Swiss company Panatere has inaugurated the world’s first two solar furnaces in La Chaux-de-Fonds, canton Neuchâtel, designed to produce fully recycled steel. The company describes the project as true circular sustainability.

CEO Raphaël Broye said the initiative aims to recycle metal waste locally, and this innovation addresses both sovereignty and sustainability challenges. Switzerland annually imports 140,000 tonnes of stainless steel, including 15,800 tonnes for watchmaking and 6,500 tonnes for the medical sector.

The patented furnace uses 500 concave mirrors and a heliostat to focus sunlight, reaching temperatures up to 2,000°C, allowing metals to melt in 1.5 hours without CO₂ emissions. By 2028, Panatere expects to produce 1,000 tonnes of solar steel per year, creating local jobs.