This could be a game-changer.
First Fossil Free Steel
Swedish steel producer, AB Steel, has produced the first carbon-free steel in the world. This is a significant step forward in combating climate change.
According to SSAB, a steel firm and one of the HYBRIT partners, HYBRIT, a Swedish conglomerate of steel producers, made the first fossil-free steel. Volvo was the first to purchase the steel as part of a trial run. Gizmodo reports that if the test runs are successful, Volvo plans to increase production of cars made from the steel by 2026.
Martin Lindqvist (president and CEO of SSAB), stated that the first ever fossil-free steel is a significant breakthrough for SSAB. We hope this will encourage others to make the green transition faster.
Green Steels: A Big Deal
Steel is one of the most carbon-intensive metals. According to a study published in Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, steel accounts for around seven to nine per cent of carbon dioxide emissions. This is a significant amount of carbon dioxide emissions to be responsible for the development of one product.
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When you think about it, it makes perfect sense. All things, from cars and buildings to furniture, have steel. Green steel can be used to reduce global emissions.
Why wasn't this already a thing?
It is essentially two ingredients that make traditional steel. Iron ore and carbon. The iron ore, which already has a lot of carbon, is then melted in a blast oven using coking coal. This is a high-carbon fuel with more iron.
Steel is made by another process where the iron has been melted and oxygen blown through.
According to The Guardian, HYBRIT aims replace coking coal by hydrogen and renewable electricity. If it is successful in its commercial phase, which it will with Volvo, then we could see a real revolution in green steel. This will go a long ways in fighting climate change, which is something we all need.
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READ MORE: Carbon-Free Steel Is Now Available [Gizmodo]
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