It is possible to produce fossil-free steel, according to Swedish steelmaker SSAB and its partners LKAB and Vattenfal who are collectively part of the Hybrit joint venture initiative.
CEOs from all three companies were at the Hannover Messe event in Germany (1-5 April 2019) exhibiting Hybrit and explaining to visitors how it works.
According to Martin Lindqvist, CEO of SSAB, “We are on our way to a revolutionary technical advancement showing the world that it is possible to produce steel without producing carbon dioxide emissions."
Lindqvist commented: “Without a change of the steel industry, Sweden and Europe will be unable to achieve their climate goals." He added that if industries with high emissions today “dare to be bold” others will follow going forward.
The three Hybrit companies are in Hannover to demonstrate how collaboration, innovation, visions for sustainability and digitalisation have succeeded in positioning Sweden at the cutting edge, says SSAB.
"I am very proud that SSAB and the other companies will show the way going forward in the sustainability conversion,” said Lindqvist.
According to Lindqvist, "We have found a solution that others can also benefit from. In order to achieve the ambitious and necessary climate goals in Sweden, Europe and the world, the steel industry also needs an overhaul."
Martin Pei, technical director of SSAB and president of Hybrit, commented: "We are challenging a thousand year-old blast furnace technology with a new hydrogen-based direct reduction that has never been tested before on an industrial scale. It is big, for both SSAB and for Sweden. Now we are halfway towards completion of a pilot facility for fossil-fuel-free steel production which should be ready next year," he said.
