Monday 6 June 2022

‘World-first’: Volvo delivers construction machine built using fossil-free steel

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has become the “world's first” manufacturer to deliver a construction machine that has been built using fossil-free steel to a customers.

The A30G articulated hauler was handed over to Swedish construction firm NCC, nine months after Volvo unveiled the world's first concept using fossil-free steel as part of the testing process.

It was developed in partnership with Swedish steel company SSAB, with the steel produced using hydrogen through renewable energy sources.

When the hydrogen is introduced to the process instead of the coke normally used to smelt iron ore, the end result is water vapour instead of carbon dioxide.

As a result of this process and the renewable energy used, fossil-free steel generates no CO2 emissions during its production.

The news comes as Volvo has become the first carbon manufacturer to commit to using 100% net zero steel by 2050 after joining the SteelZero initiative.

Melker Jernberg, President of Volvo CE said: “We are sure that to succeed in decarbonising the construction industry, actors in the value chain will need to collaborate and act. Thanks to our strong partnerships with other driven and forward-thinking companies, we are now able to lead the change towards fossil-free construction and be the first to deliver a machine built using fossil-free steel to a customer.

“Turning commitments into actions is key to building the world we want to live in.”