Vattenfall and SSAB in new fossil-free steel collaboration

In addition to the already existing HYBRIT initiative from 2016, Vattenfall and SSAB are starting another in-depth collaboration to transform the steel industry towards fossil-free steelmaking, promote the use of fossil-free steel and manufacture products with a radically reduced carbon footprint.

Vattenfall needs high-strength steel for several different components, and SSAB can supply it. According to the plan Vattenfall will gain access to fossil-free steel from SSAB, with sponge iron from the HYBRIT pilot plant, as early as next year. The volume of delivered steel will increase once production is scaled up. Vattenfall plans to start pilots next year with potential applications including power line pylons, hydroelectric dams, grid stations, anchoring structures for onshore wind power and parts of foundations for offshore wind power.

Vattenfall also aims to work with subcontractors that use fossil-free steel, and in doing so, will require that at least 10 per cent of the steel that Vattenfall purchases each year be fossil-free from 2030. Vattenfall and SSAB will also collaborate on sustainability calculations and the life cycle assessment (LCA) method of calculating CO2 emissions to ensure an entire fossil-free value chain.

“It is very positive that Vattenfall has managed to secure some of the first deliveries, despite high demand. We are now closing the circle in the HYBRIT collaboration as we take the step toward using fossil-free steel in our operations. We are working determinedly for fossil freedom and our goal is to have net zero emissions in our entire value chain by 2040. Electrifying society demands a great deal more steel and, in the long term, many suppliers, and Vattenfall needs the fossil-free steel to reach our ambitious goals. Together with SSAB, we can lead the way toward fossil freedom,” says Annika Ramsköld, Head of Sustainability, Vattenfall.

“It feels incredibly good that Vattenfall, with whom we have a successful collaboration regarding HYBRIT, will now use fossil-free steel in their products and work with subcontractors who do so too. It shows what we can achieve when we work together and is completely in line with our goal of not only reducing our own emissions but also contributing to reducing the carbon footprint in other parts of the value chain,” says Christina Friborg, Head of Sustainability, SSAB.

Vattenfall and SSAB are among the many founders of the First Movers Coalition. This agreement is completely in line with the coalition's goal of purchasing a larger share of new technology that will be decisive in achieving climate neutrality. 

Since 2016, Vattenfall, SSAB and LKAB have owned the technology development company Hybrit Development AB, whose purpose is to develop technical solutions for a fossil-free value chain for producing fossil-free steel.

Read more about the HYBRIT collaboration (link)
Read more about Vattenfall's goal of net zero by 2040 (link)
Read more about SSAB’s fossil-free steel (link)

For questions please contact:

Magnus Kryssare, press officer, Vattenfall, tel. +46 (0)76 769 56 07, magnus.kryssare@vattenfall.com

Vattenfall’s Press Office, telephone: +46 (0)8-739 50 10, email: press@vattenfall.com