Vattenfall JV begins work on hydrogen cavern storage

• HYBRIT project being established with SSAB and also LKAB

SSAB, LKAB as well as Vattenfall have actually begun building a rock cave storage space center for fossil-free hydrogen gas on a pilot scale.

As part of the SSAB, LKAB and also Vattenfall joint effort HYBRIT, Hybrit Development AB is beginning the construction of a hydrogen storage center in Svartöberget to develop the modern technology for storage.

The project will be constructed alongside HYBRIT's pilot center for straight decrease in Luleå, north of Sweden.

The financial investment expense of just over SEK 250m (EUR24.4 m) is divided equally across the holding companies and the Swedish Energy Agency, which supplies assistance via Industriklivet.

Fossil-free hydrogen, which will change coal and coke, is a critical part of the production technique for fossil-free iron and steel manufacturing, where discharges of carbon dioxide will be basically eliminated.

Hydrogen storages are anticipated to play a very essential duty in future power and energy harmonizing, and in large-scale hydrogen manufacturing.

The storage center is expected to be prepared and also functional from 2022 until 2024.

Vattenfall head of method and HYBRIT chairman Andreas Regnell said: "We're truly pleased that HYBRIT is remaining to lead the development of efficient production for fossil-free steel, as we're currently also constructing a pilot storage center for large-scale fossil-free hydrogen in Luleå.

" Storage supplies the possibility to differ demand for electricity and also secure the energy system by creating hydrogen when there's a great deal of electrical energy, for instance in gusty problems, as well as to make use of saved hydrogen when the electrical power system is under pressure."

SSAB technological supervisor Martin Pei included: "By establishing an approach for hydrogen storage space and safeguarding accessibility to fossil-free electrical power, we're creating a value chain right out to customers where whatever is fossil-free-- from the mine to the electrical power as well as to the finished steel.

" This is unique."

The 100 cubic metre hydrogen storage is being integrated in an enclosed rock cavern approximately 30 metres below ground.

Developing the storage facility underground supplies possibilities to guarantee the stress called for to save large quantities of energy in the form of hydrogen in an affordable way.

The technology utilized is adjusted to Scandinavian bedrock problems and will certainly now be developed even more to handle the storage space of hydrogen.