The HYBRIT initiative now presents the results of six years of research in a final report to the Swedish Energy Agency. The report shows that direct reduced iron produced with the HYBRIT process has superior characteristics compared to iron produced with fossil fuels. HYBRIT has applied for and received several patents based on the successful results, and the project is now continuing in the next phase where the process is to be implemented on an industrial scale.
So basically they developed nothing exactly new, but went back to the roots. The article mentions:
“The development of a new fossil-free iron product (sponge iron) that has significantly better properties than iron reduced with fossil gases[…]”
So i looked up sponge Iron. Wiki writes:" Producing sponge iron and then working it was the earliest method used to obtain iron in the Middle East, Egypt, and Europe, where it remained in use until at least the 16th century."
I was also curious which properties are meant, but only found them for wrought Iron, which is made from sponge Iron, because sponge Iron itself can not be used. Also Wiki: “Wrought iron is tough, malleable, ductile, corrosion resistant, and easily forge welded, but is more difficult to weld electrically.”
So in sum they went back to OG ironmaking and now seem to have higher quality stuff. Very nice.