Hybrit inaugurates cavern to store fossil-free hydrogen

Hybrit, the carbon-free ironmaking joint venture between SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall, has announced the inauguration of a rock cavern storage facility for fossil-free hydrogen, Kallanish notes.

The storage facility is the first of its kind in the world and marks the start of the two-year test period of the site, the partners say.

“Producing fossil-free hydrogen gas when there is a lot of electricity, for example when it is very windy, and using stored hydrogen gas when the electricity system is under strain, will ensure a steady production of sponge iron, the raw material behind fossil-free steel,” a Hybrit reelease explains.

The pilot plant has a size of 100 cubic metres. At a later stage, a full-scale hydrogen gas storage facility measuring 100,000 to 120,000 cubic metres may be required, in which case it will be able to store up to 100 GWh of electricity converted to hydrogen gas, which is sufficient to supply a full-sized sponge iron factory for three to four days.

Emanuele Norsa Italy