Harads Arctic Heat collaborates with Swerim and Vargön Alloys

A new milestone in Sweden’s green industrial transition has been reached. As part of the FEMOST project, funded by Vinnova and carried out in collaboration with Ovako Group, Uddeholm, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and Harads Arctic Heat as the supplier of biochar.

Site visit to Harads Arctic Heat Industrial Park, conducted together with members of the project team (May, 2025)

The FEMOST project, led by Swerim AB in collaboration with Vargön Alloys, Ovako, Uddeholm, Future Eco, and Harads Arctic Heat, recently completed its main industrial campaign at Vargön Alloys AB. Over a two-week period, the team tested biocarbon–mill scale–chromite briquettes in a Submerged Arc Furnace. The aim was to demonstrate how renewable carbon sources can replace fossil coke in the production of ferrochrome (FeCr).

For the campaign, Harads Arctic Heat supplied 65 tons off biocarbon produced in northern Sweden, made from sustainably sourced biomass through advanced pyrolysis technology.

“By using renewable carbon instead of fossil-based materials, the project seeks to significantly lower CO₂ emissions while maintaining efficiency and metallurgical quality.” - SWERIM

The biocarbon was used alongside mill scale, a byproduct from steelmakers Ovako and Uddeholm to create briquettes that were then charged into the furnace at Vargön Alloys. The produced FeCr will be reintroduced into special steel production, effectively closing the material loop between ferroalloys and steel.

Site tour off the pyrolysis plant (May, 2025)

The FEMOST project is part of Sweden’s broader efforts to create a more circular and resource-efficient metallurgical industry, aligning with national goals for climate neutrality by 2045.

For Harads Arctic Heat, the project represents both a validation of years of research in pyrolysis and a clear sign that regional innovation can play a key role in global decarbonization.

“This milestone proves that sustainable materials from northern Sweden can make a real difference in the green transition,” - Harads Arctic Heat CEO Niclas Norberg

Read Swerim’s original update here: Milestone in the FEMOST Project – Closing the Loop on Sustainable FeCr Production