SSAB, LKAB, Vattenfall produce world's first hydrogen-reduced sponge iron

SSAB / LKAB / Vattenfall (HYBRIT)/HYBRIT hydrogen direct reduction

Pilot plant in Luleå produced ~100 tonnes of hydrogen-reduced sponge iron in continuous operation. Hydrogen from fossil-free electricity replaced coal, reducing steelmaking emissions by ~90%.

• First hydrogen-reduced sponge iron at any scale, using fossil-free hydrogen from electrolysis.
• ~100 tonnes produced continuously over multi-day test.
• Cuts emissions by ~90% compared to traditional blast furnace steelmaking.
• Three-company partnership targets industrial-scale production by 2026.