LKAB selects Energiron® for demonstration plant in north Sweden

The full-hydrogen pilot plant in Luleå, Sweden, was built by HYBRIT Development AB, a joint venture between LKAB, SSAB and Vattenfall, and commissioned in 2020, where Energiron® supplied key equipment.

As a next step of development LKAB has contracted Tenova and Danieli for the basic engineering of LKAB`s 100% hydrogen-based, DRI plant in Gällivare.

Having a capacity of 1.35 Mtpy of fossil-free direct reduced iron (DRI), the plant will be based on HYBRIT-technology combined with Energiron® technology knowhow and experience with DRI plants.

Results from the HYBRIT pilot plant revealed that direct reduced iron obtained using pure hydrogen as reducing agent delivers superior properties and qualities, compared to DRI produced using fossil-based reducing gas, such as natural gas.

Amongst the characteristics of the new installation, it is notable that an electric process heater –world first in an industrial DRI plant– will heat the process gas using green electric power. This will further reduce carbon emissions down to zero, increasing the overall energy efficiency of the process.

The new DRI plant will use fossil-free electric power from different sources to produce fossil-free sponge iron, that will be used by SSAB to make fossil-free steel.

Currently contracted is the basic engineering services. Future equipment supply and construction is pending pre-requisites like environmental permits and final investment decision (FID).