SSAB has entered a groundbreaking collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to supply fossil-free steel, produced using its innovative HYBRIT® technology, for the construction of one of AWS’s three new data centers in Mälardalen, Sweden. This partnership marks a significant step in advancing sustainable building practices for data center infrastructure.
A New Standard in Sustainable Construction
AWS is prioritizing low-carbon materials for its data centers, utilizing steel made primarily from recycled scrap, which significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to traditional blast furnace production. To further enhance sustainability, AWS will pilot virgin steel made with SSAB’s HYBRIT technology, which eliminates most CO₂ emissions by replacing coking coal with hydrogen produced from fossil-free electricity.
Thomas Hörnfeldt, VP of Sustainable Business at SSAB, emphasized the significance of this collaboration:
“We are thrilled to welcome AWS as a new partner. By choosing steel made with the HYBRIT technology, AWS demonstrates that it’s possible to reduce the carbon footprint of data center construction, whether using recycled scrap or virgin iron ore.”
HYBRIT Technology: Transforming Steel Production
Developed by SSAB in partnership with LKAB and Vattenfall, HYBRIT technology represents a breakthrough in steel production. The process replaces carbon-intensive blast furnaces with hydrogen-based methods, emitting only water vapor instead of CO₂. The resulting fossil-free steel will be used in Ruukki sandwich panels, which will form part of the new AWS data center in Västerås, Sweden.
Driving Net-Zero Goals
AWS’s collaboration with SSAB aligns with its broader mission to achieve net-zero carbon operations by 2040.
Kellen O’Connor, Managing Director Europe North at AWS, highlighted the importance of the initiative:
“Reducing the embodied carbon of our data centers is a key priority as we work toward net-zero carbon. Partnering with innovative companies like SSAB and Ruukki allows us to decarbonize construction materials and set a new benchmark for sustainable infrastructure.”
Pioneering Sustainable Infrastructure
This partnership underscores the role of fossil-free steel in decarbonizing industrial processes and supporting sustainable infrastructure. By integrating HYBRIT technology into the construction of its Swedish data centers, AWS is not only advancing its sustainability commitments but also setting an example for the global technology and construction industries.
The collaboration between SSAB and AWS highlights the transformative potential of fossil-free steel and reinforces the commitment of both companies to building a more sustainable future.
