After six years of extensive research, HYBRIT now presents its final report on producing direct reduced iron using fossil-free hydrogen and electricity. Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology is the breakthrough technology that will revolutionize the steel industry by massively reducing carbon dioxide emissions, cutting more than 10% of Sweden’s total emissions.
HYBRIT: A Groundbreaking Initiative
HYBRIT was launched in 2016 and is an initiative of the steel company SSAB, mining company LKAB, and energy company Vattenfall. This will doubtless change the entire steel industry, replacing coal and coke with fossil-free hydrogen and electricity in ironmaking. This reduces carbon dioxide emissions from steel production by nearly.
These six years have marked important milestones for HYBRIT, including the successful technology demonstration of a fossil-free value chain from iron ore to steel in semi-industrial scale. The research and development phase between 2018 and 2024 just ended by handing over the final report of HYBRIT to the Swedish Energy Agency.
Key Results of Final Report
The final report provides a detailed description of the major benefits of using the HYBRIT process to make DRI compared to traditional production with fossil fuels. In that respect, the use of hydrogen and electricity coming from totally fossil-free sources involves no carbon dioxide emissions and is, therefore, more sustainable and environmentally friendly for the production of steel.
Success for HYBRIT implies a critical leap into the world of reduced carbon emissions. Given that the steel industry is among the heaviest carbon dioxide-emitting industries, full-scale deployment of its technology will go a long way in helping many countries meet their targets on climate change.
Transition to Full-Scale Industrial Implementation
After the successful completion of the semi-industrial research phase, HYBRIT is moving on to full-scale industrialization. This involves scaling up on an industrial level whereby the production using hydrogen from fossil-free electricity will be advanced to full commercial production of iron.
The project leader, Hybrit Development AB, will further continue research and development to support the industrialization of the technology. These consist of more process refinement and ascertaining suitability for large-scale application. This also includes ongoing work at the LKAB Demonstration Plant in Gällivare, Sweden, and the pilot project for storing fossil-free hydrogen in Svartöberget, Luleå until 2026.
Collaboration and Financing
HYBRIT’s successes can come true only with a very close, collaborative effort between SSAB, LKAB, and Vattenfall, along with the active support of the European Union and the Swedish government. The project is financed by the Innovation Fund of the EU and Sweden’s Industriklivet initiation; it is also part of the Important Project of Common European Interest, IPCEI, within the European Hy2Use initiative. It encompasses 35 projects in 12 countries, all targeted at accelerating the industry to more sustainable practices and making Europe more competitive in the global market.
Impact on Emissions in Sweden
As a matter of fact, HYBRIT’s technology would, when fully implemented, have the potential to reduce Sweden’s total carbon dioxide emissions by as much as over 10%. That is how colossal the emissions are from the industry itself, and switching to HYBRIT’s fossil-free steelmaking process from the traditional process might reduce overall national emissions by more than 10%, hence making considerable contributions toward achieving the nation’s climate goals of a fossil-free industrial sector.
Outlook
The completion of HYBRIT’s final report certainly marks the most critical moment in its development thus far, but it is only the first step in industrially realizing that technology and making fossil-free steel production a reality. During the next phase of the project, the focus will shift toward scaling up, perfecting the technology, and ensuring knowledge and experience gained during the research can be translated into actual production at a large scale.
HYBRIT’s success may turn out to be exemplary for other industries who want to reduce their carbon footprint and find environmentally friendly practices. Thus, HYBRIT will be the forerunner in offering a sustainable future not only to the steel industry but also beyond by showing that fossil-free steel production is possible and commercially viable.
Conclusion
This final report by HYBRIT on fossil-free iron production symbolizes such a milestone in the global effort for reducing industrial carbon emissions. Going full-scale, the project will have not only the potential to transform the steel industry but significantly cut Sweden’s carbon footprint. With HYBRIT continuing to enhance and improve its technology, the world will further watch how this pioneer of an initiative may contribute to leading toward a more sustainable future.
Credits: Vattenfall