ABB has been selected by GreenIron, an innovative Swedish company working in the mining and metals industries with its patented materials reduction technology, to provide automation and control system solutions for a first commercial facility in Sandviken, Sweden.
GreenIron’s hydrogen-based reduction technology will be industrialised for fossil-free and energy-efficient production of metals, producing fossil-free sponge iron that can then be used in industries such as steelmaking. A single furnace is expected to reduce carbon emissions by around 56,000 tonnes per year compared to traditional coal-based methods, with the only residual product being water. Scaling up to 300 furnaces would correspond to roughly 35 percent of Sweden’s annual CO2 emissions.
The integration of the ABB Ability™ System 800xA distributed control system (DCS) will enable the scaling up of GreenIron’s operations. The powerful automation platform will manage the entire industrial process, with the capabilities to integrate control, safety and power management into one system. It will mean overall plant visibility for optimisations, efficiencies and better decision-making based on data and insights, accord-ing to ABB.
GreenIron paves the way for circular production processes by producing valuable raw materials from residual products such as landfills and residues as well as virgin ore. The sponge iron products can be used in steel or other metal fabrication processes, including electric arc furnaces, smelting plants and foundries.
“The collaboration with ABB is a crucial part of our scaling up and future growth as we commence commercial production,” said Ulrika Molander, chief operating officer of GreenIron. “ABB’s system will enable us to make informed decisions, stabilise operations at every stage, and analyse data for our continued journey. It’s an exciting time for us.”
