Ovako, Europe’s largest steel maker and one of the largest steel recyclers in the Nordic countries, is launching the hydrogen plant at its Hofors mill.
The inauguration represents a big step forward in the drive to create a more sustainable steel sector, with the potential for large reductions in worldwide emissions, including those from other heavy industries. On September 5th, 2023, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will launch the facility on-site.
The fossil-free hydrogen generated by Ovako’s new facility will be used to heat steel at nearby rolling mills, effectively decreasing carbon dioxide emissions to near zero. Aside from steel heating, the hydrogen will be utilized to power fuel cell-powered trucks, and the plant’s excess heat will be used for district heating.
The fossil-free hydrogen plant at Hofors is Europe’s largest in operation. This industrial heating technology solution has the potential to significantly reduce global emissions, and it is not confined to the steel industry.
Ovako is guaranteeing that the Hofors facility will make a difference from the start by partnering with partners such as the Volvo Group, Hitachi Energy, H2 Green Steel, and Nel Hydrogen. The Swedish Energy Agency and the European Union have both contributed to the development of the hydrogen plant.
