While Australia talks up the potential for green steel, Swedish vehicle and steel producers are making it happen with automaker Volvo accepting its first delivery of fossil-free steel this month.
The fossil-free steel, as indicated by steelmaker Ssab, was created using “hydrogen breakthrough ironmaking technology,” in a partnership with iron ore producer Lkab and energy organization Vattenfall.
The delivery of fossil-free steel to Volvo marks a huge achievement both for green steel production and for auto industry supply chain emissions.
Ssab president and CEO Martin Lindqvist said, “the first fossil-free steel in the world is not only a breakthrough for Ssab, it represents proof that it’s possible to make the transition and significantly reduce the global carbon footprint of the steel industry.
“We hope that this will inspire others to also want to speed up the green transition,” he said.
Swedish automaker Volvo will be the first car organization to utilize the fossil-free steel in its vehicles, accepting its first conveyance in August. Volvo hopes to begin manufacturing concept vehicles from the steel in 2022, with mass production to follow.
Volvo president and CEO Martin Lundstedt said, “we are determined to be a climate-neutral company … this means that our vehicles and machines will be emission-free when in operation but also that we will review the materials, like steel, used in our products and will gradually switch to fossil-free alternatives here as well.”
The fossil-free steel is created by supplanting coking coal with renewable electricity and hydrogen. Ssab plans to move to commercial scale production of the green steel within five years and be totally fossil-free and zero emissions by 2045.
The production of fossil-free steel has global importance given the iron and steel industry represents 7% of energy sector emissions around the world. The iron and steel industry is the biggest industrial consumer of coal for both warmth and coke, as indicated by the International Energy Agency.
Green steel has been promoted as “an historic opportunity” for Australia by Grattan Institute. Grattan discovered green steel produced with huge and cheap renewable energy was the nation’s biggest and most economically viable clean energy opportunity with the possibility to make a huge number of jobs.
Sweden produces around 4.5 million tons of steel, a comparable amount to Australia at around 5.5 million tons.
Sweden is as of now the world-leader in green steel, with Swedish organizations having the biggest share of investment in low emissions steel as per LeadIT a global collaboration of nations (including Australia) and organizations focused on decreasing emissions from industry.
Steel is utilized in engineering and construction and every day products like cars, refrigerators and washing machines.
Vehicles utilize an average of 900 kilograms of steel in each vehicle, as indicated by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. Steel is utilized in the car body (panels, doors, boot), the drive train, suspension, wheels, fuel tank and breaking systems.
A car brand known for its high safety standards, Volvo is currently calling climate change the “ultimate safety test” for ensuring individuals’ lives inside and outside its vehicles.
This year the vehicle organization has made a series of climate declarations including plans for every one of its vehicles to be “fully electric” by 2030 and carbon neutral by 2040, including emissions cuts across its vehicles, operations and logistics, materials and suppliers.
Volvo is directing its concentration toward supply chain emissions. As indicated by Volvo, emissions from steel and iron production make up around 20-35 percent of the material and production emissions for every vehicle.
Just as carbon neutral vehicle manufacturing plants and fossil free steel, Volvo’s expects to expand the share of recycled plastic, aluminum and steel in its vehicles.
Until this point, a significant part of the conversation identifying with car emissions has focused on comparing emissions from petrol and diesel cars to power utilized by electric vehicles.
Lifecycle emissions from battery electric vehicles are as of now much lower than regular vehicles as indicated by analysis by the International Council on Clean Transportation, with decreases becoming greater as electricity grids shift to renewable energy.
As vehicle creators like Volvo shift to electric vehicles, materials and production of vehicles and batteries will make up a developing share of lifecycle emissions.
Volvo produces around 775,000 vehicles, and recorded a record half year performance in the first half of 2021.
