And Volvo is planning already this year to nehinproduction of cars snd components from steel made by SSAB using environmentally clean hydrogen – and not coal or coke.
The carmaker intends to become a climate neutral company by 2050 – that means that all cars produced by the company will release no noxious emissions. Volvo plans to start small-scale production of such cars in 2022 and gradually to make the process gradually subject to mass production. That mass production process is to be readied for launch in 2022.The companies intend to develop a series of products from stainless steel with the aim of achieving their commercial production over a number of years. SSAB intends to start putting them on commercial markets on an industrial scale in 2026.
“Steel free of fossil fuel-based hydrocarbons will be produced in accordance with completely new technology and using both fossil-based power and hydrogen, “ the company said in a statement. “As a result, there will be much less effect on climate and a chain a creating value.” Steel production accounts for a large share of polluting emissions. According to data from the International Energy Agency, the ferrous metal industry is responsible each year for 2.6 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide. The steel sector in the United States is a major consumer of coal and provides some 75 % of tge sector’s energy needs.
Sweden also has plans to build a plant to produce “green” hydrogen, with production due to start in 2024. By 2030, the plant will be able to produce 5 million tonnes of hydrogen a year. Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis – the splitting of water into oxygen and hydrogen with the help of electric current. And electricity used in this process comes from renewable sources.
