Solar energy is concentrated and transferred to a heat transfer fluid, thereby heating the heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid includes solid particles. Heat from the heat transfer fluid is used to melt a metal. While transferring heat to the furnace, at least a portion of the melted metal is oxidized to form steel. Heat is transferred from a first portion of the heat transfer fluid to a working fluid. The working fluid is then flowed through a turbine generator, which generates electrical power in response. A first water stream is electrolyzed using the electrical power generated by the turbine generator to produce a first oxygen stream and a first hydrogen stream. Heat is transferred from a second portion of the heat transfer fluid to a reactor that houses a recycling agent to thermochemically split a second water stream into a second oxygen stream and a second hydrogen stream.