SSAB in Luleå, Sweden, will shut down its blast furnace by 2030 as part of a production transition. Before that, Luleå Energi must find more heat sources for the city's district heating network. Luleå's district heating system supplies about 31,000 households, many industries, and Sunderby Hospital.
Most of the district heat is produced in a combined heat and power plant co-owned by SSAB and Luleå Energi, where residual gases from the blast furnace are the largest energy source. Magnus Johansson, project manager for the energy transition at Luleå Energi, is responsible for securing the district heating supply when SSAB transitions. He says the tight timeline is the biggest challenge, as they must follow the industry's pace.
He says the tight timeline is the biggest challenge, as they must follow the industry's pace.
Luleå Energi is still looking for more partners besides SSAB, LKAB, and Uniper, but hopes to resolve this in time. If not, Luleå Energi may have to buy more bio-oil and bio-pellets, increasing costs and risking higher prices for residents. Johansson expresses confidence in finding industrial collaborations to use residual heat and maintain competitive prices.
Johansson expresses confidence in finding industrial collaborations to use residual heat and maintain competitive prices.