The transport industry is facing major challenges to reduce its carbon emissions. Since trucks and their construction depend on steel as a building material, the choice of steel plays a crucial role in the industry’s climate impact. Fossil fuel-free steel gives hauliers and bodybuilders a substantial opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable future, without compromising on quality and safety.
How does the production of fossil fuel-free steel affect CO2 emissions?
Traditional steel production emits approx. 2 tonnes of carbon dioxide for each tonne of steel produced. By using fossil fuel-free steel, these emissions can be reduced to almost zero.
What is fossil fuel-free steel?
Fossil fuel-free steel is steel produced without the use of fossil fuels. According to SSAB, this means that coal in traditional steel production is replaced with hydrogen, which eliminates almost all carbon dioxide emissions from the process. The result is steel with the same high quality, but with a significantly lower climate impact.
Is hydrogen always used for the production of fossil fuel-free steel?
No, hydrogen is not the only method of replacing coal in steel production, but it is among the most promising.
The following methods can be used to produce fossil fuel-free steel:
Hydrogen
- In the hydrogen-based method, hydrogen gas replaces coal or coke as a reducing agent in the blast furnace. When hydrogen reacts with iron ore, the ore is reduced to iron, and the only byproduct is water vapour, not carbon dioxide. If the hydrogen is produced with renewable energy (called “green hydrogen”), the process can become completely fossil fuel-free.
Biochar
- Biochar is a type of renewable carbon produced from organic matter (such as forest biomass) and can be used instead of fossil coal. Since biochar comes from renewable resources, it binds carbon dioxide during the growth phase. It can therefore reduce net carbon emissions compared to fossil coal.
Iron ore electrolysis
- Iron ore electrolysis is a method that uses electricity directly to reduce iron ore to iron, without the need for carbon or hydrogen gas. This method can be completely fossil fuel-free if the electricity comes from renewable sources. The technology is still under development and has not reached the same maturity as hydrogen-based processes.
Reuse of scrap (electric arc furnace, EAF)
- By melting down scrap instead of iron ore using electric arc furnaces (EAF) to produce new steel, the need for new iron ore can be greatly reduced, thereby also reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Although this method cannot completely replace coal or iron ore due to limited availability of scrap, it requires less energy and leads to fewer emissions.
When can fossil fuel-free steel be used?
Several operators in the industry strive for fossil fuel-free steel production. SSAB, for example, has set the goal of having fossil fuel-free steel commercially available from 2026.
Will VBG products be made of fossil fuel-free steel?
Like many other companies, we work to reduce carbon emissions and promote a sustainable future. We are fully aware that the material content in truck construction has a major impact on the journey towards freedom form fossil fuels. That is why we have started a collaboration with SSAB to prepare ourselves for the future. When fossil fuel-free steel becomes available on the market, we want to ensure that our products contribute to a sustainable transport sector and help hauliers and bodybuilders reduce their carbon footprint.
How will the cost of fossil fuel-free steel affect the price of truck bodywork?
It is too early to say exactly how fossil fuel-free steel will affect the price of products, but the cost may initially be slightly higher due to investments in new technology. In the longer term, as production scales up, costs are expected to fall, and it may even be a competitive advantage for hauliers to use more sustainable materials.
Want to know more about what VBG is doing for the environment?
Read How does the UN’s Paris Agreement relate to VBG’s sustainability work?
