SSAB has successfully completed HYBRIT’s pilot project for fossil-free hydrogen gas storage, confirming its feasibility for large-scale iron and steel production. The project, submitted to the Swedish Energy Agency, shows potential cost savings of up to 40pct in hydrogen production.
Launched in 2016 by SSAB, LKAB, and Vattenfall, HYBRIT aims to create the world’s first fossil-free ore-based steelmaking process using hydrogen and fossil-free electricity. The pilot involved a 100 m3 steel-lined rock cavern storage facility in Lulea, Sweden, tested for 50 years of simulated operation. Results show the system enhances cost efficiency by storing hydrogen when electricity prices are low and using it when prices are high.
With the steel industry contributing 7pct of global CO2 emissions, HYBRIT’s technology could reduce Sweden’s and Finland’s emissions by 10pct and 7pct, respectively. The Swedish Energy Agency co-financed 22pct of the project, with the rest funded by SSAB, LKAB, and Vattenfall.
Since 2022, the facility has operated for 3,800 hours with 94pct availability, confirming steel’s resistance to hydrogen with no detected leakage. Real-time optimization against electricity markets has demonstrated savings of 26-31pct, with simulations indicating up to 40pct for future commercial plants.
Encouraged by these results, HYBRIT has extended the pilot until 2026 to refine commercial hydrogen storage solutions.
