Announcing the contract award on Wednesday, Tenova executives said they are excited to be a part of the project. 

“Tenova puts innovation, safety and sustainability at the core of its technological innovations and products and Tenova HYL represents the state of the art in DR plant design, reliable operation, environmental friendliness and economy,” said Tenova HYL chief executive Stefano Maggiolino. 

The Hybrit joint venture brings together SSAB, iron ore miner LKAB and power generator Vattenfall, who together are proposing a carbon-free steelmaking process that relies on hydrogen as a reductant. Their process route includes a direct-reduction plant, a hydrogen production plant that runs on renewable power and an electric arc furnace.

The joint venture has laid plans for a pilot-scale facility that is scheduled to come on-line in 2020. 

“By using state-of-the-art production technology as a starting point, we will more quickly reach our goal of a fossil-free future,” said Mårten Görnerup, chief executive of Hybrit Development AB.