The world’s “first fossil-free steel” in the world has been manufactured and delivered it to Volvo Group.
The test delivery is an important step toward a fully fossil-free iron and steel production value chain and a milestone for the HYBRIT partnership between SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall.
In July, steel firm SSAB Oxelösund rolled the first steel produced using HYBRIT technology using 100% fossil-free hydrogen instead of coal and coke.
Vattenfall president and chief executive Anna Borg (pictured) said: “It’s very pleasing that the HYBRIT partnership is once more taking an important step forward and that SSAB can now produce the first fossil-free steel and deliver to the customer.
“This shows how partnerships and collaboration can contribute to reducing emissions and building competitiveness for industries.
“Electrification is contributing to making fossil-free living possible within one generation.”
Minister of Trade and Industry of Sweden Ibrahim Baylan added: “Industry and especially the steel industry create large emissions but are also an important part of the solution.
“To drive the transition and become the world’s first fossil-free welfare state, collaboration between business, universities and the public sector is crucial.
“The work done by SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall within the framework of HYBRIT drives the development of the entire industry and is an international model.”
SSAB president and chief executive Martin Lindqvist said: “The first fossil-free steel in the world is not only a breakthrough for SSAB, it represents proof that it’s possible to make the transition and significantly reduce the global carbon footprint of the steel industry.
“We hope that this will inspire others to also want to speed up the green transition.”
SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall created HYBRIT, Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology, in 2016, with the aim of developing a technology for fossil-free iron- and steelmaking.
In June 2021, the three companies were able to showcase the world’s first hydrogen-reduced sponge iron produced at HYBRIT’s pilot plant in Luleå.
This first sponge iron has since been used to produce the first steel made with this breakthrough technology.
The goal is to deliver fossil-free steel to the market and demonstrate the technology on an industrial scale as early as 2026.
Using HYBRIT technology, steel-manufacturer SSAB has the potential to reduce Sweden’s total carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 10% and Finland’s by approximately 7%.