News Archives - Hybrit

24 February 2026

Decision on extended operation of HYBRIT’s pilot facility for fossil-free hydrogen storage in Luleå

HYBRIT has been granted an extension of its temporary building permit, allowing the operation of the pilot facility for fossil‑free hydrogen storage in Svartöberget in Luleå until 2031. The HYBRIT initiative was launched in 2016 by owners SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall with the aim of developing the world’s first fossil-free, ore-based iron- and steelmaking. As …

19 September 2025

HYBRIT:s Hydrogen storage won Ny Tekniks Grand Prize for Engineering 2025 in Sustainability

Marie Anheden, Vattenfall, Project Manager for the Hydrogen Storage Project and Gunilla Hyllander, General Manager at Hybrit Development AB (Photographer: Markus Fischer, Vattenfall) Fossil-free hydrogen storage in lined rock caverns ready for industralization and now the hydrogen storage project has won the Grand Prize for Engineering 2025 in Sustainability, a prestigious award awarded by the …

27 February 2025

HYBRIT: Large-scale storage of fossil-free hydrogen gas successfully proven

HYBRIT’s pilot project for hydrogen gas storage has now been completed and reported to the Swedish Energy Agency. The results show that it is technically possible to store fossil-free hydrogen gas for producing fossil-free iron and steel on an industrial scale. This can also reduce the variable operating costs of hydrogen production by up to …

24 January 2025

HYBRIT honoured with World Economic Forum GAEA award in Davos

Fossil free iron- and steelmaking initiative HYBRIT received the World Economic Forum’s ‘Moving Force in Business’ Award in Davos. This GAEA award, one of five, recognizes sustainable business solutions that have the potential to transform whole sectors, industries or markets. HYBRIT was launched in 2016 by steel company SSAB, mining company LKAB and energy company …

2 September 2024

Gunilla Hyllander new General Manager of Hybrit Development AB

The Board of Hybrit Development AB has appointed Gunilla Hyllander as General Manager as of 1 September 2024. Ulf Spolander, who has been General Manager since 1 September 2022, is leaving Hybrit for a new position as senior business developer at LKAB. “I am very inspired and glad for the opportunity to lead this special …

Pilotplant in Winter

27 August 2024

HYBRIT: Six years of research paves the way for fossil-free iron and steel production on an industrial scale

The HYBRIT initiative now presents the results of six years of research in a final report to the Swedish Energy Agency. The report shows that direct reduced iron produced with the HYBRIT process has superior characteristics compared to iron produced with fossil fuels. HYBRIT has applied for and received several patents based on the successful …

14 December 2023

Positive decision on support for LKAB and HYBRIT

The HYBRIT initiative receives support from Industriklivet, the Swedish Energy Agency’s program to support Swedish industry’s transition to fossil-free.

1 November 2023

HYBRIT: LKAB will be responsible for the construction of the demonstration plant in Gällivare

LKAB and Hybrit Development AB have submitted a supplementary application to the Swedish Energy Agency for support for the next step in the development of the HYBRIT initiative. The supplement clarifies that LKAB is responsible for the construction of the planned demonstration plant and will be the main recipient of any state aid. At the …

HYBRIT Hydrogen Storage closed for tests

23 September 2022

HYBRIT: Milestone reached – pilot facility for hydrogen storage up and running

SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall’s HYBRIT pilot facility for the storage of fossil-free hydrogen gas is now in operation in Luleå. The rock cavern storage facility is the first of its kind in the world for storing fossil-free hydrogen gas.

18 March 2022

EU Commissioner for Energy visits HYBRIT pilot plant in Luleå

Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy, visits the HYBRIT pilot plant in Luleå during her visit to Sweden, to experience the world’s first completely fossil-free value chain for iron and steel production. HYBRIT is jointly owned by SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall.

18 February 2022

HYBRIT: A unique hydrogen storage facility in Luleå is taking shape

Construction of the rock cavern storage facility for fossil-free hydrogen in Luleå has reached the halfway point. Right now the steel lining is being installed inside Svartöberget. The storage facility, which will be an important part of the value chain for fossil-free iron and steel production, is planned to be in operation by the summer. …

19 November 2021

Eva Vitell Leaving as GM of Hybrit Development AB

Eva Vitell, GM of Hybrit Development AB, has chosen to leave the company. A process to find her replacement has begun and Eva Vitell will remain as GM for some time.