The world’s first “green steel” customer that does not use coal production is being delivered Sweden, According to its manufacturer.
The Swedish joint venture Hybrit says it is supplying steel to truck manufacturers Volvo AB will conduct a trial run before full commercial production in 2026. Volvo said it will start production of prototype vehicles and green steel components in 2021.
Steel production using coal accounts for approximately 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. A year ago, Hybrit began trial operation at its Green Free Steel Pilot Plant in Lulea, northern Sweden. It aims to replace the coking coal traditionally used for ore-based steelmaking with renewable electricity and hydrogen. Hydrogen is a key part of the EU’s plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Hybrit is owned by steel manufacturer SSAB, state-owned utility company Vattenfall, and mining company LKAB.
SSAB accounts for 10% and 7% of Sweden and Finland’s carbon dioxide emissions. It stated that the trial delivery is “an important step towards a completely fossil-free value chain… The goal is to provide fossil-free steel to the market as early as 2026 and demonstrate the technology on an industrial scale.”
Another green steel company, H2 Green Steel, plans to build a fossil-fuel-free steel plant in northern Sweden, including a sustainable hydrogen facility, and start production in 2024.
