The Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will inaugurate the facility on-site on September 5th 2023.
“Our steel mill in Hofors was founded as early as the 16th century, and with the new hydrogen plant, we begin a new chapter in Swedish steel history. Heating steel products has previously required large amounts of fossil fuels. We are now the first in the world to heat steel with fossil-free hydrogen before rolling, reducing the emissions in this production step to almost zero,” says Marcus Hedblom, President and CEO Ovako Group.
The fossil-free hydrogen produced in Ovako’s new facility will be used to heat steel at adjacent rolling mills, significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions to nearly zero. In addition to steel heating, the hydrogen will be used for fueling fuel cell-powered trucks, and the excess heat from the plant will be used for district heating.
The fossil-free hydrogen plant in Hofors is the largest in operation in Europe. This solution for industrial heating technology holds the potential for substantial global emissions reductions, not limited to the steel industry.
“The hydrogen plant strengthens Sweden’s position in sustainable innovations. There is an increasing demand for climate-neutral steel, in which we already hold a leading position, and there is significant interest in the industry for these types of new solutions. Now, we are showing the way forward for making high-grade industrial heat entirely fossil-free, not just for steel,” says Marcus Hedblom.
By collaborating with partners such as the Volvo Group, Hitachi Energy, H2 Green Steel, and Nel Hydrogen, Ovako is ensuring that the Hofors plant will make a difference from day one. The development of the hydrogen plant has been supported by the Swedish Energy Agency and the European Union.
