[ case study ]
With a capacity of 20 MW , the alkaline electrolysis plant , comprising eight electrolyzer stacks , is capable of producing 3,880 m ³ of hydrogen per hour , along with oxygen .
use of hydrogen to heat steel before rolling in a production setting . Ovako conducted its first lab tests using hydrogen to heat steel for rolling in 2019 . A year later , the process was tested in the actual furnaces – with great success .
The trial at the Hofors mill showed that hydrogen can be used easily and effectively to heat steel . Most importantly , the switch to hydrogen had no effect on the quality of the steel . With these results , it became clear that hydrogen heating could be introduced in rolling mill furnaces under the right conditions , further lowering the carbon footprint of steel production .
Drawing water from local supply
The electrolyzer is located near the furnaces at Hofors , allowing the hydrogen production process to be seen as ‘ borrowing ’ water for a short time . The plant takes water from the local supply and splits it into hydrogen and oxygen . These are then combined again to create oxyfuel , which is injected into the furnace . When burned , the oxyfuel returns to water . This approach requires only a few minutes of storage as a buffer for fluctuations in production and demand .
The system has many different components , including the electrolyzer itself , scrubbers , storage tanks , compressors , pipes , and electrical equipment like transformers and rectifiers . A smart control system has also been developed for a smooth switch between hydrogen and propane ( LPG ) oxyfuels . Before the plant became operational , Ovako experts conducted extensive
18 Hydrogen Tech World | Issue 20 | February 2025