The Swedish steel company Ovako AB, in cooperation with Linde Gas AB, has carried out a large-scale trial to test the use of hydrogen instead of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) for heating rolled steel - with positive results. The hydrogen did not affect the quality of the steel, the company said. “This historic development for the steel industry proves that carbon dioxide emissions from rolling can be avoided if the right financial support and infrastructure are in place.”
Under the right conditions, Ovako could introduce hydrogen use for furnaces in all of its rolling mills, thereby “drastically improving” its carbon footprint. It is estimated that an initial investment would save 20.000 tons of carbon dioxide per year. “We carried out this test in such a way that it can be fully reproduced in Hofors and in our other rolling mills,” says Anders Lugnet, Group Technical Specialist, Energy & Furnace Technology at Ovako.
Ovako develops high-tech steel solutions in the transportation and manufacturing industries. Production is based on recycled scrap. Ovako employs around 3.000 people in more than 30 countries and generates sales of around EUR 1.000 million. Since March 2019, Ovako is a subsidiary of Sanyo Special Steel and a member of the Nippon Steel Corporation group, the third largest steel producer in the world.
Photos:
(c) Ovako
