Reports related to this article:
Project(s): View 1 related project in PECWeb
Plant(s): View 1 related plant in PECWeb
Released July 14, 2021 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--The world's first hydrogen-reduced sponge iron has been produced at the HYBRIT pilot plant in Luleå, Sweden.
Classed as the world's leading green steel project, HYBRIT is an initiative between steelmaker SSAB (NASDAQ OMX:SSAB A) (Stockholm, Sweden), Sweden's state-owned mining giant LKAB (Luleå) and energy company Vattenfall (Stockholm). The HYBRIT process is based on direct reduction of iron ore using renewable energy and hydrogen gas (H2).
The partners announced that the pilot plant has completed test production of sponge iron and "demonstrates that it is possible to use fossil-free hydrogen gas to reduce iron ore instead of using coal and coke to remove the oxygen". Production has been "continuous and of good quality" with about 100 tonnes made so far. The process eliminates around 90% of emissions compared to conventional steelmaking. The commercial-scale plant is set to go live in 2026 and will have an initial capacity of slightly more than 1 million tonnes per year of steel. This is the equivalent of 20% of LKAB's total processing capacity at Malmberget and almost half of the production capacity of SSAB's blast furnace in Luleå.
"This is a major breakthrough both for us and for the entire iron and steel industry," explained Jan Moström, president and chief executive officer LKAB. "LKAB is the future supplier of sponge iron and this is a critical step in the right direction. Progress with HYBRIT enables us to maintain the pace in our transition and already in 2026, we will begin the switch to industrial-scale production with the first demonstration plant in Gällivare, Sweden. Once LKAB has converted its entire production to sponge iron, we will enable the transition of the steel industry and reduce global emissions by around 35 million tonnes a year, which corresponds to two thirds of Sweden's entire emissions. This is the greatest action we can take together for the good of the climate."
Martin Lindqvist, president and chief executive officer at steelmaker SSAB, added: "This technological breakthrough is a critical step on the road to fossil-free steel. The potential cannot be underestimated. It means that we can reach climate goals in Sweden and Finland and contribute to reducing emissions across Europe. At the same time, it creates new jobs and export successes. SSAB's transition means we will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10% in Sweden and 7% in Finland. High-strength fossil-free steel will also allow us to help our customers to strengthen their competitiveness. As early as this year, we will deliver minor quantities of steel made using hydrogen-based reduction to customers, and in 2026 we will deliver fossil-free steel at a large scale."
Earlier this year, Industrial Info reported that Sweden was adding to its position as the global leader of a new wave of green cement and steel production with plans for a new, large-scale fossil-free steel plant in the north of the country. H2 Green Steel (H2GS) will be located in the Boden-Luleå region and use a giga-scale green hydrogen plant as an integrated part of the steel production facility. It is being backed by a consortium of companies including truckmaker Scania, Vargas--co-founder of battery maker Northvolt, SMS Group and BILSTEIN Group among others. For additional information, see August, 2020, article--Sweden Unveils Plans for Largest Green Hydrogen Steel Plant.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn.
Classed as the world's leading green steel project, HYBRIT is an initiative between steelmaker SSAB (NASDAQ OMX:SSAB A) (Stockholm, Sweden), Sweden's state-owned mining giant LKAB (Luleå) and energy company Vattenfall (Stockholm). The HYBRIT process is based on direct reduction of iron ore using renewable energy and hydrogen gas (H2).
The partners announced that the pilot plant has completed test production of sponge iron and "demonstrates that it is possible to use fossil-free hydrogen gas to reduce iron ore instead of using coal and coke to remove the oxygen". Production has been "continuous and of good quality" with about 100 tonnes made so far. The process eliminates around 90% of emissions compared to conventional steelmaking. The commercial-scale plant is set to go live in 2026 and will have an initial capacity of slightly more than 1 million tonnes per year of steel. This is the equivalent of 20% of LKAB's total processing capacity at Malmberget and almost half of the production capacity of SSAB's blast furnace in Luleå.
"This is a major breakthrough both for us and for the entire iron and steel industry," explained Jan Moström, president and chief executive officer LKAB. "LKAB is the future supplier of sponge iron and this is a critical step in the right direction. Progress with HYBRIT enables us to maintain the pace in our transition and already in 2026, we will begin the switch to industrial-scale production with the first demonstration plant in Gällivare, Sweden. Once LKAB has converted its entire production to sponge iron, we will enable the transition of the steel industry and reduce global emissions by around 35 million tonnes a year, which corresponds to two thirds of Sweden's entire emissions. This is the greatest action we can take together for the good of the climate."
Martin Lindqvist, president and chief executive officer at steelmaker SSAB, added: "This technological breakthrough is a critical step on the road to fossil-free steel. The potential cannot be underestimated. It means that we can reach climate goals in Sweden and Finland and contribute to reducing emissions across Europe. At the same time, it creates new jobs and export successes. SSAB's transition means we will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10% in Sweden and 7% in Finland. High-strength fossil-free steel will also allow us to help our customers to strengthen their competitiveness. As early as this year, we will deliver minor quantities of steel made using hydrogen-based reduction to customers, and in 2026 we will deliver fossil-free steel at a large scale."
Earlier this year, Industrial Info reported that Sweden was adding to its position as the global leader of a new wave of green cement and steel production with plans for a new, large-scale fossil-free steel plant in the north of the country. H2 Green Steel (H2GS) will be located in the Boden-Luleå region and use a giga-scale green hydrogen plant as an integrated part of the steel production facility. It is being backed by a consortium of companies including truckmaker Scania, Vargas--co-founder of battery maker Northvolt, SMS Group and BILSTEIN Group among others. For additional information, see August, 2020, article--Sweden Unveils Plans for Largest Green Hydrogen Steel Plant.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn.
