Volvo has received the world’s first shipment of fossil-free steel from Swedish manufacturer SSAB.

The steel was reduced using 100% fossil-free hydrogen, instead of coal and coke. SSAB said the trial delivery is an important step to developing a completely fossil-free value chain for iron and steelmaking.

“The first fossil-free steel in the world is not only a breakthrough for SSAB, it represents proof that it’s possible to make the transition and significantly reduce the global carbon footprint of the steel industry,” SSAB CEO Martin Lindqvist said. “We hope that this will inspire others to also want to speed up the green transition.”

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SSAB created its Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology (HYBRIT) with KAB and Vattenfall. The companies showcased the world’s first hydrogen-reduced sponge iron in June, which has since been used to produce the first fossil-free steel.

The companies want to deliver fossil-free steel at an industrial scale by 2026.

“We’ll be converting to electric arc furnace in Oxelosund as early as 2025. This is the first production site within SSAB to make the transition, and it means that we’ll already be cutting large amounts of carbon dioxide emissions then. This is a major responsibility, one that we’re proud to shoulder, and it brings great opportunities to the region,” said Johnny Sjostrom, head of SSAB Special Steels Division.

SSAB believes its HYBRIT technology has the potential to reduce Sweden’s total carbon dioxide emissions by 10% and Finland’s by 7%.

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