‘Green Steel’ Sweden Ships First ‘Coal-Free’ Steel
Steel production using coal accounts for around 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Swedish steel maker SSAB/Hybrit started test operations at its pilot plant for green steel in Luleå, northern Sweden, a year ago. It aims to replace coal, traditionally needed for ore-based steel making, with renewable electricity and hydrogen.
A piece of iron produced as part of the green steelmaking process. Photograph: Hybrit
The Swedish venture said it is delivering the steel to truck-maker Volvo AB as a trial run before full commercial production in 2026. Volvo has said it will start production in 2021 of prototype vehicles and components from the green steel. (source AP).
Volvo makes big ol’ simi-truks like this.
Hydrogen is a key part of the EU’s plan to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
SSAB has vowed to cut its CO2 emissions in Sweden by 25% by as early as 2025, through the conversion of the blast furnaces in Oxelösund, Sweden, to an electric arc furnace. Between 2030-2040, the plan is to convert the blast furnaces in Luleå, Sweden and Raahe, Finland to eliminate most of the remaining CO2 emissions.
Hybrit plant, Sweden,
This is the world’s first steel produced and shipped without using coal in history. And it’s a big deal for Sweden, which is one of the largest sources of iron ore in the world, with approximately 92% of the iron ore in Europe. Sweden has has been mining medals and fossil fuels out of it’s mountains for hundreds of years, it’s a big step to switch to electric and hydrogen based fuels.
Another green steel venture, H2 Green Steel, is planning to build a fossil fuel-free steel plant in the north of Sweden, including a sustainable hydrogen facility, with production starting in 2024. No doubt these are publicity stunts by massive mining companies for the time being, but European regulation is also behind this.
Hopefully, one day the rest of the world will be able to adopt these much cleaner practices. Coal remains the world’s single largest source of carbon pollution, presenting a major threat to our health, our economy, and our planet. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nine out of ten people worldwide breathe dirty air, and the World Bank has estimated that the economic burden of air pollution costs the global economy trillions of dollars. According to scientists, if we want to stave off the worst impacts of climate change, we must end our reliance on coal globally by 2050 or sooner. (source Bloomber)
