Hitachi Energy has successfully delivered an innovative modular eHouse solution to Ovako, a prominent European steel manufacturer and one of the Nordic region’s largest steel recyclers.
This project, located in Hofors, Sweden, marks a historic achievement as the world’s first steel plant to utilize hydrogen for steel heating prior to rolling. Beyond steel production, the green hydrogen generated here will be employed to power fuel cell trucks, and surplus heat will be harnessed for district heating purposes.
This remarkable feat is the result of a cross-border collaboration involving Hitachi Energy, Ovako, Volvo Group, H2 Green Steel, and Nel Hydrogen, initiated in the summer of 2021. It is further bolstered by support from the Swedish Energy Agency, with the overarching goal of facilitating widespread adoption of green hydrogen across various industrial sectors, advancing knowledge about its potential applications, and ensuring cost-effective production.
Hitachi Energy played a pivotal role in this endeavor, providing a modular and factory-built Grid-to-Stack solution. This comprehensive system includes critical components such as transformers, rectifiers, control equipment, and high-current connections necessary for the conversion of alternating current from the distribution grid into the direct current used by the electrolyzer.
Johan Söderström, Head of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Hitachi Energy, expressed pride in their collaboration with Ovako, emphasizing its role in promoting a sustainable steel industry. He highlighted that this project represents a significant milestone with the potential to substantially reduce global emissions.
Marcus Hedblom, President and CEO of Ovako, stressed the growing demand for climate-neutral steel and the importance of innovative solutions. He noted that the project signals a path forward for achieving fossil-free high-grade industrial heat, not limited to steel production.
Hitachi Energy’s focus on pioneering products and services supporting the clean energy transition includes the utilization of green hydrogen for a decarbonized future. Their extensive expertise in grid connection and power quality solutions enables groundbreaking technologies for renewables integration, ensuring high power quality and the reliability of resilient power grids.
On September 5, 2023, the hydrogen plant in Hofors mill was inaugurated by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Japanese Ambassador Noke Masaki, Ovako’s CEO Marcus Hedblom, and key representatives from Hitachi Energy, Volvo Group, H2 Green Steel, and Nel Hydrogen, marking a significant step toward sustainable steel production.
