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At the ChangeNow Climate Conference in Paris, the Swedish HYBRIT (Hydrogen-Based Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology) project demonstrated a zero-carbon steelmaking process that is completely independent of fossil fuels. NK K/E63 steel This project, with its potential for large-scale application, has successfully helped Sweden gain a first-mover advantage in its industrial transition away from fossil fuels.
The ChangeNow conference, held at the end of April, focused on innovation and new thinking, focusing on safety, competitiveness, and climate change. Discussions explored how industry can achieve a green transformation based on existing R&D initiatives.
Sweden's fossil-free steel development project, HYBRIT, is a successful example of such a solution. Since its pilot plant in Luleå opened in August 2020, it has produced thousands of tons of fossil-free sponge iron. NK K/E63 steel Swedish steelmaker SSAB began delivering the product to its first customers in 2021.
Mikael Nordlander, Partnership Director at Vattenfall, said: "Fossil-free steel produced with hydrogen is now a reality and ready for scale. Sweden is the right place at the right time for this project."
At the conference, fossil-free sponge iron produced with HYBRIT technology was highlighted as a key success story since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015.
Mikael Nordlander and Martin Pei of SSAB Steel participated in a panel discussion at the Grand Palais in Paris on April 14th. During the discussion, Mikael Nordlander noted, "Sweden's comparative advantage in Europe is clear. NK K/E63 steel In recent years, Swedish electricity prices have been 40% to 60% lower than those in continental Europe." Compared to other increasingly nervous European businesses, Swedish companies are less focused on electricity prices and more on long-term climate goals, the long-term investment environment, and grid expansion. Europe's future competitiveness is closely tied to its transition to a fossil-free economy. Unlike China and the United States, Europe relies on imported fossil fuels, which increases costs and reduces competitiveness.
Vattenfall's latest analysis shows that the key to enhancing the EU's competitiveness lies in the transition to a fossil-free energy economy. Europe cannot remain competitive in a fossil fuel economy, so climate targets must be maintained to create a predictable environment for necessary investment. Industry must have confidence that demand will be guaranteed in order to invest.
Mikael Nordlander points out: "Paradoxically, Vattenfall currently has a large surplus of fossil-free electricity in northern Sweden, but this also means that the conditions for industrial electrification in the region are good."
