Fossil-free Steel Applications, Phase 1
The ongoing FOSSA2 project is preceded by the FOSSA1 project.
Phase I of the FOSSA project consortium consisted of four companies (SSAB Europe Oy, Hiab Finland Oy, Fortaco Ostrobothnia Oy and Indalgo Oy), three research organizations (the University of Oulu, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, Tampere University) and in-kind companies.
FOSSA1
Duration
1/2022 – 12/2023
Budget
about 7,5 M€
Funding
Business Finland, participating companies and research partners
FOSSA1 and FOSSA2: towards the common goal
FOSSA1 aimed to initiate the transition towards carbon-neutral steelmaking in Finland and it concentrates on the applications made of fossil-free Steel. FOSSA concentrates on the applicability of the fossil-free steel. The results of FOSSA can be expeditiously extended to Finnish steel production, workshops and end users, enabling them to strengthen their leading position in fossil-free steels and steel applications. The knowledge and novel concepts that need to be developed in this project will become the essential basis for the new steel products and business innovations.

Three main research topics of FOSSA-project were:
Fossil-free steel value chain
The logic and business models is changing due to fossil-free value chain. In this new world order, steel production and applications will emerge critical such that the companies must renew their revenue logic towards value-driven thinking instead of fully cost-based pricing.
Fossil-free steel applications
The aim is to establish fossil-free value chains within the Finnish metals industry and develop fossil- free 3rd and 4th generation hot- and cold-rolled high-strength steels. The developed novel steel grades will have a yield strength in the range 700–2000 MPa and elongation ~15–30 %, combined with extremely good low-temperature toughness, weldability, formability and high sustainability, without excessive use of expensive alloying elements. Several advanced process designs are envisaged for various innovative concepts such as direct quenched (and partitioned) steels, advanced medium-Mn steels and nanostructured martensitic and bainitic steels.
Virtual steel production
Virtual control and adjustment of the steel manufacturing chain will be developed. The entire production route of the novel steels can then be studied at one platform that consists of several material and process models without the need for expensive development and time-consuming experimental work. The virtual steel platform will enable process and steel designs using the envisaged novel steels (processes & properties) and applications based on the requirements of the end user, i.e. backward design.