Steel manufacturer SSAB and wave energy firm CorPower Ocean have joined forces to advance the development of fossil-free steel for use in wave energy technology. The collaboration aims to create one of the world's first wave energy power plants constructed with eco-friendly steel.

CorPower Ocean will leverage SSAB's fossil-free steel as a structural material to construct a wave energy system designed to significantly reduce carbon emissions compared to existing offerings in the market. The goal is to incorporate fossil-free steel into CorPower Ocean's commercial products starting in 2026.

This collaboration is particularly significant as approximately 25% of the lifetime carbon dioxide emissions of CorPower Ocean's wave energy products currently result from the use of steel as a material.

The partnership between SSAB and CorPower Ocean reflects a new direction in the wave energy sector, emphasizing the entire life cycle of energy generation systems, including the responsible sourcing and recycling of structural materials.

“We have supported CorPower Ocean for almost ten years with the selection and specialist design of high-strength steel for its constantly evolving wave energy technology,” explained Thomas Hörnfeldt, Vice President of Sustainable Business at SSAB. “Now, we are hugely excited for the next chapter of this long-term partnership, delivering fossil-free steel to ensure CorPower Ocean's commercial product is delivered with the lowest carbon footprint possible."

Anders Jansson, Head of Business Development at CorPower Ocean, emphasized the company's commitment to environmentally friendly electricity production, saying: "One of our core company mantras is to deliver the most environmentally friendly electricity on our planet. With our work with SSAB and fossil-free steel, we aim to lead the way within the renewable sector by transparent reporting and continuous reduction of lifecycle emissions."

Wave energy is considered a promising source of 24/7 clean energy, capable of meeting the demand for electricity consistently throughout the year. It represents one of the largest untapped sources of clean energy, with a harnessable potential of 500GW, surpassing the total global nuclear resource available today.

In line with its commitment to sustainability, SSAB aims to introduce fossil-free steel to the market at a commercial scale around 2026 and to substantially reduce its CO2 emissions from operations by approximately 2030. SSAB collaborates with iron ore producer LKAB and energy company Vattenfall as part of the HYBRIT initiative, which focuses on developing a value chain for fossil-free iron and steel production. This initiative replaces coking coal, traditionally used in iron ore-based steelmaking, with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen, virtually eliminating carbon dioxide emissions in steel production.