Tenova to supply world's first fossil-free steel making technology

Hybrit Development chose Tenova DRI solution to develop the world’s first fossil-free steel-making technology with virtually no carbon footprint.

 

Hybrit Development selected Tenova, a company of the Techint Group specialized in innovative solutions for the metals and mining industries, as supplier of selected process equipment, for direct reduction ironmaking, for its pilot plant for fossil-free steel in Luleå, Sweden.

 

In 2016, the HYBRIT Initiative for fossil-free steelmaking was established with the aim to replace coking coal, traditionally needed for ore-based steel making, with hydrogen in order to obtain a fossil-free steel-making process route with virtually no carbon footprint. The HYBRIT Initiative set specific target toward the construction and operation of a pilot plant with the aim to test hydrogen as reducing agent in the production of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI).

 

“I am particularly excited and proud of being part of this project”, stated Stefano Maggiolino, Tenova HYL CEO. “Tenova puts innovation, safety and sustainability at the core of its technological innovations and products and Tenova HYL represents the state of the art in DR plants design, reliable operation, environmental friendliness and economy”.

 

“Tenova HYL, which has a long tradition of supplying industrial plants for DRI-production, will supply selected process key equipment for Direct Reduction Ironmaking. By using state-of-the-art production technology as a starting point, we will more quickly reach our goal of a fossil-free future”, said Mårten Görnerup, CEO of Hybrit Development AB.”

 

The pilot-plant is designed for the purpose to develop production of DRI using Hydrogen, a crucial process step in the future fossil-free steelmaking production route. The pilot plant will be located in Luleå, Sweden, and is expected to begin operations in 2020.

 

Tenova, a Techint Group company, is a worldwide partner for innovative, reliable and sustainable solutions in metals and mining. Leveraging a workforce of over three thousand forward-thinking professionals located in 22 countries across 5 continents, Tenova designs technologies and develops services that help companies reduce costs, save energy, limit environmental impact and improve working conditions.

 

Hybrit Development AB is a joint venture between SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall. By using hydrogen instead of coke and coal when manufacturing steel, the ambition is to create a process that emits water instead of carbon dioxide. The initiative HYBRIT® fossil-free steelmaking process route was announced in spring 2016 and a joint venture company was formed one year later. Research will continue until 2035. If the initiative is successful, HYBRIT® will make a major contribution to a fossil-free world.