Sweden – Ovako, the premier European steel maker and one of the largest steel recyclers in the Nordic countries, is launching the hydrogen plant at its Hofors mill.
With the potential to significantly reduce global emissions, including those from other heavy industries, the inauguration represents an important step towards a more sustainable steel industry. The building will be officially opened on-site on September 5, 2023, by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
The nearby rolling mills’ usage of the fossil-free hydrogen produced in Ovako’s new facility to heat steel would drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions to almost zero. Hydrogen will also be utilized to fuel fuel cell-powered trucks, in addition to heating steel, and extra heat from the plant will be used for district heating.
Reducing emissions
The largest operational facility producing fossil-free hydrogen in Europe is located at Hofors. This approach to industrial heating technology has the potential to significantly reduce worldwide emissions, not just in the steel sector.
The Volvo Group, Hitachi Energy, H2 Green Steel, and Nel Hydrogen are just a few of the partners Ovako is working with to make sure the Hofors facility will have an impact right away. The Swedish Energy Agency and the European Union have supported the construction of the hydrogen plant.
