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Completion of Energy4HYBRIT biomaterial sidestream prefeasibility study in Finland
December 10, 2020 12:30 CET 6 min read
The Energy4HYBRIT prefeasibility study, part of SSAB’s plan to be fossil free by 2045, has been completed. In this prefeasibility study, SSAB investigated the use of fossil-free energy sources, primarily biomaterial sidestreams, to replace fossil fuels in certain steelmaking processes, for example rolling processes. The Raahe mill in Finland acted as the reference in the project. The prefeasibility study indicates that it would be possible to replace a significant amount of fossil fuel consumption with felling and other bio-based sidestream components at the Raahe mill.
“Regarding biofuels, the project studied the possibilities of collecting, transporting and utilizing, for example, various felling and other bio-based sidestreams from the Baltic Sea Region. The results of the prefeasibility study were positive and the most promising technical solutions based on these results will be developed in follow-up projects currently being planned. The Raahe site will act as the reference site in these projects,” says Harri Leppänen, Director, Environment and Safety at SSAB.
The University of Oulu and VTT studied and modeled all energy flows at the mill as part of the prefeasibility study. The prefeasibility study was carried out by SSAB with Gasum, Neste and St1 and was supported by Business Finland. The energy companies were studying the use and availability of alternative energy sources.
Ironmaking accounts for around 90% of SSAB’s carbon dioxide emissions. The Energy4HYBRIT prefeasibility study and the planned follow-up projects based on it will focus on the 10% of carbon dioxide emissions remaining after the reduction of iron ore, originating in numerous other steelmaking processes than ironmaking.Together with its partners in the HYBRIT initiative, LKAB and Vattenfall, SSAB aims to create a fossil-free value chain, from the mine to the end-product.
Media contacts:
Atte Kaksonen, Corporate Communications, SSAB, [email protected], tel. +358 50 3143 634
Harri Leppänen, Director, Environment and Safety, SSAB, [email protected], tel. +358 40 557 8939