Swedish steel maker SSAB and German auto giant Mercedes-Benz are launching a partnership to introduce fossil-free steel into vehicle production as early as possible: The first prototype parts for body shells made of SSAB´s fossil-free steel are already being planned for next year. By 2039 at the latest, the Mercedes-Benz new passenger car fleet will become carbon dioxide-neutral along the entire value chain.In 2026, SSAB plans to supply the market with fossil-free steel at a commercial scale after the conversion of its Oxelösund blast furnaces to an electric arc furnace and by using HYBRIT technology, which replaces coking coal, traditionally needed for iron ore-based steelmaking, with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. This process virtually eliminates carbon dioxide-emissions in steelmaking.SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall created HYBRIT, Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology, in 2016, with the aim of developing a technology for fossil-free iron- and steelmaking. In August 2021, SSAB was able to show the world´s first fossil-free steel plate made from hydrogen-reduced iron produced at HYBRIT´s pilot plant in Lulea, Sweden, an essential step toward a completely fossil-free value chain for steelmaking.
Swedish steel maker SSAB and German auto giant Mercedes-Benz are launching a partnership to introduce fossil-free steel into vehicle production as early as possible: The first prototype parts for body shells made of SSAB´s fossil-free steel are already being planned for next year. By 2039 at the latest, the Mercedes-Benz new passenger car fleet will become carbon dioxide-neutral along the entire value chain.In 2026, SSAB plans to supply the market with fossil-free steel at a commercial scale after the conversion of its Oxelösund blast furnaces to an electric arc furnace and by using HYBRIT technology, which replaces coking coal, traditionally needed for iron ore-based steelmaking, with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. This process virtually eliminates carbon dioxide-emissions in steelmaking.SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall created HYBRIT, Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology, in 2016, with the aim of developing a technology for fossil-free iron- and steelmaking. In August 2021, SSAB was able to show the world´s first fossil-free steel plate made from hydrogen-reduced iron produced at HYBRIT´s pilot plant in Lulea, Sweden, an essential step toward a completely fossil-free value chain for steelmaking.
