HOME: Hydrogen and circularity in Västerbotten's mineral and metal industry

The project is led by IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute together with Luleå University of Technology (LTU) and Swerim, a metals research institute focusing on industry and the path from raw material to product, as well as Region Västerbotten and Västerbotten County Administrative Board.

This project focuses on three key areas: hydrogen production, the reuse of mining waste and the reduction of fossil carbon use in foundries. The first objective is to map current and future hydrogen production levels, while identifying industries where hydrogen can serve as a clean, sustainable fuel.

The second focus area, led by LTU, explores the reuse of mining waste, especially tailings and waste rock often disposed of in landfills. Sweden, as one of Europe's largest metal producers, generates around 120 million tons of mining waste every year. Managing this waste poses significant environmental challenges due to its reactive nature, leading to the formation of sulfate and metal-rich leachates. This work aims to find innovative applications for this waste, such as producing a cement-based binder, reducing its environmental footprint and promoting resource efficiency.

Finally, the project will focus on strategies to reduce the dependency on fossil carbon in local foundries, promoting the transition to more sustainable industrial practices.

Co-funded by the European Union. The HOME project is funded by the EU