SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall has initiated a project that, if proven feasible, can solve the steel industrys carbon dioxide challenge, HYBRIT (Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology).The aim is to drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions from ironmaking by eliminating the need to use fossil fuel for iron ore reduction. The idea is to replace the blast furnaces with an alternative process, using hydrogen produced from clean electricity.
This means that the by-product from ironmaking would be water not carbon dioxide. Lower carbon emissions means a positive effect on the acidification, which is critical to preserve the biodiversity of the oceans