Hitachi Energy has delivered a modular eHouse solution to Ovako, a European manufacturer of steel and one of the largest steel recyclers in the Nordic countries
The 20 MW electrolyzer at Hofors, Sweden, will be electrified as a result. The hydrogen will also be utilised to fuel cell-powered vehicles, making this the first factory in the world to heat steel before rolling. Any leftover heat from the plant will also be used for district heating.
In order to transform alternating current from the distribution grid into direct current used in the electrolyser, transformers and rectifiers, along with other necessary control equipment and high-current connections, have been provided by Hitachi Energy as part of a modular and factory-built Grid-to-Stack solution.
This is a result of a cross-border collaboration with Hitachi Energy, Ovako, Volvo Group, H2 Green Steel and Nel Hydrogen, which was announced in the summer of 2021. The initiative is also supported by the Swedish Energy Agency with the aim of establishing an industrial-wide use of green hydrogen, increasing the knowledge about the possibilities of the fuel and achieving cost-effective production.
“We are proud to collaborate with Ovako and be part of the journey to advance a sustainable steel industry. This project is a significant milestone and holds the potential to substantially reduce global emissions and the journey continues in Sweden and globally together,” said Johan Söderström, head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Hitachi Energy.
“We are committed to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation offering leading-edge advisory services and technologies to accelerate the energy transition. Our solutions for the hydrogen sector support the generation of efficient and reliable clean energy.”
“The hydrogen plant strengthens Sweden's position in sustainable innovations. There is an increasing demand for climate-neutral steel, in which we already hold a leading position, and there is significant interest in the industry for these types of new solutions,” said Marcus Hedblom, president and CEO of Ovako. “Now, we are showing the way forward for making high-grade industrial heat entirely fossil-free, not just for steel.”
