Better iron with the Hybrit process

Luleå Six years of research shows that the fossil-free Hybrit process operated in a pilot plant in Luleå produces better iron. The results are presented in a final report to the Swedish Energy Agency.

The report shows that directly reduced iron produced with the Hybrit process has favorable properties compared to iron produced with fossil fuels. Hybrit has applied for and received several patents based on the results.

Hybrit's iron product is carbon-free and has a high degree of metallization, 98-99%. It is more resistant to pressure, drop and abrasion than comparable industrial references and has stable chemical properties. This offers advantages in transportation, storage and melting.

The results also show that the steel produced from fossil-free sponge iron in an electric arc furnace is of the same high quality as today's fossil ore-based steel.

The Hybrit project is run by the steel company SSAB, the state-owned mining company LKAB and the state-owned energy company Vattenfall with the ambition to fundamentally change the iron and steel industry by switching to fossil-free production of iron and steel. Coal and coke will be replaced by fossil-free hydrogen and electricity, and water will be emitted instead of carbon dioxide. Sweden's total carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by 10% and Finland's by 7% if the steel industry switches processes.

So far, over 5,000 tons of hydrogen-reduced iron have been produced at the Hybrid pilot plant in Luleå. Customers such as Volvo Group, Epiroc and Peab are already using the fossil-free steel in vehicles, heavy machinery and buildings.

“It has been a groundbreaking journey in a short period of time. The results from the pilot phase show that the process works and that we are ready for the next stage, where the demonstration plant that LKAB plans to build in Gällivare will be the first step towards industrial production of sponge iron. Our high- uality iron ore combined with good access to fossil-free energy provides unique conditions for establishing a competitive value chain for future fossilfree iron and steel production,” says Jenny Greberg, Vice President Technology at LKAB and board member of Hybrit Development AB.

Lennart Håkansson

editor@northswedenbusiness.com