“SSAB continues to innovate our products and manufacturing processes, and accordingly, we will transition toward fossil-free steelmaking and renewable energy,” said Chuck Schmitt, president of SSAB Americas, the North American unit of Sweden-based SSAB. “Ultimately, our goal is to create a completely fossil-free value chain, from the raw materials and through to the end products.”
 
SSAB Americas’ mills are built on a scrap-based EAF process route, using almost 100% recycled materials. But SSAB Iowa and SSAB Alabama also intend to utilize fossil-free sponge iron produced in Sweden as part of the Hybrit project, enabling the eventual production of fossil-free steel. Hybrit is a joint project led by SSAB in collaboration with Swedish mining company LKAB and Swedish energy company Vattenfall.
 
SSAB Iowa partners with MidAmerican Energy for its renewable power, which is generated primarily by wind farms in Iowa. MidAmerican Energy is on track to deliver renewable energy equal to 100% of energy used on an annual basis by 2021.