Wow! Today the HYBRIT initiative starts the pilot operations for production of fossil-free steel in Luleå, Sweden. Sadly, this also marks my last day as formally employed at Hybrit. It has been a fantastic ride and inspiration for bigger things to come. Here are my views. 1/21

The HYBRIT initiative is a game-changing initiative where the ore-based steelmaking, representing approx. 70% of the world’s 1.7 billion annual tonnes, can substitute the carbon used for reduction with hydrogen. This technology will allow emissions to be H2O instead of CO2. 2/21

Today’s CO2-emissions from steelmaking represents 6-7% of the total global emissions, and a vast majority of that (>90%) is originating from the conversion of ore to iron. So, a HYBRIT success is a success for humanity and will make a difference for the climate. 3/21

HYBRIT initiative is built on a proven recipe on how to tackle challenges in times of distress: Make it big and bold, make it cover the complete value chain, make critical stakeholders commit, form an outstanding team, and make sure there is a potential win for all involved. 4/21

A. HYBRIT is big and bold – it addresses a large human challenge and it provokes an industry resistant to change. The HYBRIT momentum made European steelmakers realize that change is coming and to recognize Hydrogen as a way forward, a position they had resisted for decades. 5/21

B. Ore-Iron-Steel-Energy. Addressing a complete value chain is a success factor. The sheer size of any value chain creates a momentum that paves the way. It generates spin-off solutions strengthening the business case. Finally, the commercial bond pushes progress. 6/21

C. Stakeholders committed easily to HYBRIT due to the nature of the project. It was in-line with political targets laid out for the mid-century, and it somehow acknowledged that policies could generate change making industry stop resisting and instead adapt to a new future. 7/21

D. A fantastic team of experts formed the initial team in the Hybrit joint venture company; focusing on execution towards the objectives, driven by passion. This made all the difference and partner organizations struggled to keep up, sometimes even resisting. 8/21

E. HYBRIT is a win-win. The climate impact is a major up-side, as well as the business opportunity outlined - no business, no future. Some less noble drivers, such as the possibility to obtain positive publicity and strengthened relations persons in power, also attracted. 9/21

So, with all the components in place SSAB (steel), LKAB (iron ore), and Vattenfall (energy) joined forces with the Swedish government and secured funding of +1 billion SEK to be used for pilot facilities and research covering the complete value chain ore-iron-steel-energy. 10/21

The flag-ship of the pilot facilities is the Hydrogen-based iron production unit, which will start operating today (!). It is a mini-production facility designed for R&D that will run at 1 tonne/hr capacity, using the direct-reduction technology. 11/21

The hydrogen-based ironmaking will produce a high purity iron with low carbon content – a tremendous operational challenge impacting not only the ironmaking process itself, but also sends shock-waves up and down the steelmaking production chain. 12/21

So, what comes next? HYBRIT will move on and start full-scale operations, that is for sure. This, however, requires significant amounts of electricity which pin-points one of many hurdles to come: Energy availability. 13/21

The global climate challenge is an energy challenge, and the way out is renewable energy (electricity) which in the future needs to cover all of today’s energy use; electricity and fossil fuels. Then add a growing global population. The challenge is tremendous. 14/21

The good news is that the technical solutions are already here; renewable electricity from wind and solar has never been cheaper. Key technologies, such as hydrogen water electrolysis, also see production costs falling. 15/21

The bad news is that implementing the transformation is costly, difficult to manage and with considerable societal impact. Private-public partnerships and bold political visions will be the way forward to overcome the initial hurdles. Get the ball rolling! 16/21

A new energy landscape. Energy-intense industrial operations of the future should no longer be located in densely populated areas with high energy consumption and low potential for production of renewable electricity. 17/21

A logistical shift is needed where base materials such as iron is produced in remote, renewable-energy-rich locations, and then shipped to the production (steelmaking) facilities. This will allow us to fully explore the renewable energy arena. 18/21

New renewable energy hubs will generate jobs in rural areas for production of energy and energy-intense base materials while the bulk of the traditional production and assembly operations will remain in existing locations. 19/21

Energy is a national strategic asset. The country with most renewable energy will be the winner at the mid of the century. Renewable energy and strategies for rapid deployment should be on top of any national agenda to create a sustainable and competitive nation. 20/21

It is time for another big and bold (renewable energy) project!
Thank you for reading and hats off to the HYBRIT team!
Special thanks to
@hybrit_project
@SSAB_AB
@LKABgroup
@VattenfallGroup
@Energi_mynd
@SwedishPM
@IsabellaLovin
21/21