LKAB has selected Energiron to develop a new 100% hydrogen-based direct reduced iron plant in Gällivare, northern Sweden.
Energiron, a joint venture between Danieli and Tenova, will develop the new plant, designed to have a capacity of 1.3 million tonnes/year of fossil-free DRI. The technology provider previously supplied key equipment for the hydrogen-based pilot plant commissioned in 2020 by HYBRIT, the LKAB, SSAB and Vattenfall joint venture.
“Results from the HYBRIT pilot plant revealed that direct reduced iron obtained using pure hydrogen as reducing agent delivers superior properties and qualities, compared to DRI produced using fossil-based reducing gas, such as natural gas,” Danieli explains. “Amongst the characteristics of the new installation, an electric process heater – world first in an industrial DRI plant – will heat the process gas using green electric power. This will further reduce carbon emissions down to zero, increasing the overall energy efficiency of the process.”
The output of the new DRI plant is expected to feed SSAB steelmaking plants, to produce fossil-free steel in the future, Kallanish understands.
Emanuele Norsa Italy
