ABB wins electrification contract for SSAB’s fossil-free steel mill

ABB will deliver the main electrical infrastructure for SSAB’s new fossil-free mini-mill in Luleå, Sweden, supporting the steelmaker’s transition to low-carbon production.

Under the contract, ABB will design, supply, install and commission the renewable power distribution system for the site. The new mill will replace SSAB’s existing steelmaking operations at Luleå and is expected to cut CO2 emissions by 2.8m t/y – equivalent to around 7% of Sweden’s total emissions.

Fossil-free steel

SSAB has been developing fossil-free steel since 2021, including SSAB Zero, which is made from recycled steel using fossil-free energy. Its first plates were supplied to Volvo Group.

The company produces two zero-emission steel products, SSAB Zero, based on recycled steel, and SSAB Fossil-free, made from iron-ore without the use of fossil fuels.

The new mini-mill will use recycled steel and electric arc furnace (EAF) technology. ABB has worked with SSAB to develop a power system capable of sustainably supplying the energy-intensive EAF with fossil-free electricity.

Carl Orrling, CTO of SSAB, said: “ABB has been a long-term key supplier to SSAB for decades. With this agreement we will continue this journey in the future.”

AAB also recently landed a contract with SSAB to deploy electrification and automation technologies at the company’s hot-rolling mill in Borlänge, Sweden.

Key transformation work at Luleå will take place over the next three years, with SSAB aiming to begin fossil-free steel production at the site by the end of 2029.