
The future is fossil-free! Are you in?
If you think sustainable steel production sounds like a contradiction in terms, you probably have a point. But now, it’s time for a change.
Explore what a fossil-free future means for youIf you think sustainable steel production sounds like a contradiction in terms, you probably have a point. But now, it’s time for a change.
Explore what a fossil-free future means for youThe interest in “green steel” is increasing. But when no official definition exists, how do you know if you’re a victim of greenwashing?
Read about partnerships and future applications our partners are building in fossil-free steel. Together we are cutting CO2 emission, leading the way to a sustainable future.
Fossil-free steel has the same characteristics as traditional steel. You won’t notice any difference, but the planet will.
Innovative partnerships at SSAB prove that fossil-free steel can enable significant steps towards a green automotive future.
For thousands of years, steel has been made using coal to remove oxygen from iron ore, emitting vast amounts of CO2 in the process. But now, SSAB is set to revolutionize the industry with HYBRIT technology, using hydrogen instead of coal in the ore reduction process, and emitting water instead of CO2.
Development at SSAB of the world’s first-ever fossil-free steel is moving fast. Discover how patenting the technology will benefit future partners and increase global impact.
Sweden’s SSAB and South Korea’s POSCO are showing the way towards a greener future, co-hosting a global forum and promoting inspirational knowledge exchange.
Fossil free means that a product or service has been created without using fossil fuels or fossil raw materials. Fossil-free steel is made without creating carbon emissions and by using fossil-free energy sources. All of the iron ore used in SSAB Fossil-free™ steel will come from fossil-free mining in the future.
The first step in making steel is to turn iron ore into iron by removing the oxygen. This has traditionally been done using coal and coke in the blast furnace process. However, this step will now be done using hydrogen gas through the HYBRIT process. The byproduct of this process is water, not CO2. Fossil-free electricity will be used to produce hydrogen from water via electrolysis. The end result of the HYBRIT process is solid iron (sponge iron) which is then melted in an electric arc furnace. Across the entire process, only fossil-free electricity and fuels will be used – resulting in fossil-free steel as an end product.
SSAB has invested heavily in fossil-free steel and as part of this, the production process will be documented in an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). EPDs are third-party reviewed and follow strict European and international standards.
Fossil-free steel will have the same properties and quality as its traditionally produced counterpart, so it will perform in the same way in all industrial applications. Fossil-free steel will match the current standards of steel and will be suitable for use just as today’s steel.
Fossil-free steel is a premium product with a higher price than regular fossil-based steel products. The main cost-drivers for fossil-free steel are the investments in production and infrastructure, to switch from coal to fossil-free electricity and hydrogen, from natural gas to biogas, and from iron ore pellets to HYBRIT sponge iron.
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Pressure to be more sustainable is being exerted at both ends of the supply chain, according to Professor Fredrik N G Andersson from Lund University.
The challenge facing global supply chains and transportation networks is to bring down emissions while remaining profitable.
Together the Volvo Group and SSAB have created the world’s first vehicle made from fossil-free steel.
SSAB is taking part in meetings and seminars in conjunction with the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP27, which this year is hosted by Egypt. SSAB will, as part of Business Sweden’s delegation, raise the need for enabling regulatory frameworks and a level playing field as well as highlight the importance of partnerships and cross-sector co-operation to reach Paris Agreement targets.
New research within the HYBRIT project, driven by SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall, shows superior results on the properties and quality of the hydrogen direct reduced sponge iron (H-DRI) made using HYBRIT technology. Test results prove that the direct reduction of iron ore using hydrogen offers a superior product that is easy to handle, transport and store. It also virtually eliminates CO\2\ emissions in the reduction process.
SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall's HYBRIT pilot facility for the storage of fossil-free hydrogen gas is now in operation in Luleå. The rock cavern storage facility is the first of its kind in the world for storing fossil-free hydrogen gas. The two-year test period will now start and continue until 2024, which means that HYBRIT has taken another important step in developing the overall value chain for fossil-free iron and steel production.