We continuously improve our energy efficiency in all business processes. By implementing the DIN EN ISO 50001 in 2012, we took our energy management to a new level. Under this certification we are committed to our own resource-conserving energy policy.
For our SWT Green Steel we use 100% renewable electric energy, guaranteed by proofs of origin. This saves 270,000 tonnes of CO2 every year.
Stahlwerk Thüringen has launched extensive projects to expand the generation of regional renewable energy and to keep electrical energy 100% green. Stahlwerk Thüringen has launched extensive projects to expand the generation of regional renewable energy and to keep electrical energy 100% green. With photovoltaic systems, we will produce our own electricity on the company premises in the short term. We have extensively analysed each individual factory building to ensure that the respective roof meets the high structural requirements in terms of load capacity. As a first step, we have planned PV systems on two warehouses with a total nominal output of 500 kWP and an expected annual yield of 480 MWh. We will use 100% of this output ourselves. Further PV systems are being planned. We initiate and promote regional solar power projects, plan to use regional solar power and investigate possibilities for the use of wind energy.
We are going to implement a hybrid heating concept for the rolling mill furnace: natural gas is to be partially replaced by green electrical energy. In this context, we see induction technology for separate preheating as a promising alternative to natural gas as a fossil energy source.
We aim at successively replacing fossil fuels with green feedstocks. Our electric arc furnace (EAF) shall gradually use biochar and green gases. In order to reduce CO2 emissions, the gas demand will be reduced by increasing the electrical energy input and by gradually enriching the natural gas with biogas. Our long-term goal is the use of 100% biogas and biochar.
By the year 2040, we want to use exclusively climate-neutrally produced hydrogen and hereby replace the fossil energy source natural gas. Among others, our aim is a 100% CO2 reduction in our reheating furnace rolling. We are working towards being connected to a supra-regional hydrogen network by the end of 2027. However, the availability of sufficient green hydrogen is a necessary prerequisite for utilising this connection.
A further potential way to use hydrogen are the aggregates for ladles and tundishes in the electric steel mill.
We also plan to change the flame cutting processes in the electric steel mill to climate-neutral hydrogen in order to substitute natural gas. This would not only reduce CO2, but also accelerate the cutting process because hydrogen has a higher flame speed.
We are planning an extended utilization of waste heat, for example from our waste gas streams in order to produce useful heat and electricity. The established internal heat supply could be extended by further heat lines and adjoining buildings.
Our company buildings are being energetically improved and thus contribute to an efficient use of energy. Moreover, the lighting throughout the company is being modernised and converted to LED lamps. Individual areas were brought up to the current state of the art by renewing ventilation and air-conditioning technology. With these measures, we have been able to reduce emissions by 2,600 tonnes of CO2e since 2012.
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