Spanish steel producer switches to green technologies
The Spanish metallurgical company Sidenor is implementing an investment plan for the decarbonization of the Basauri plant, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving production energy efficiency. The projects are being implemented as part of the PERTE de Descarbonización Industrial 2024 program, according to a press release.
The plan provides for two key areas: electrification of some production processes and digitalization of energy management. The company notes that these measures should strengthen its sustainability, competitiveness and compliance with the goals of decarbonization of energy-intensive industries.
The first project provides for the replacement of existing steam boilers running on natural gas with mechanical vacuum pumps with electric power. The new equipment will be used in the steel degassing process at the finishing site in the steelmaking industry. This will allow Sidenor to completely eliminate gas consumption for boiler operation at this stage.
Electricity for the pumps will be supplied from renewable sources, which should prevent an increase in indirect emissions after electrification of the process. According to the company, the project will save about 35 thousand MWh of natural gas per year and reduce emissions by more than 6 thousand. Tons of CO2 equivalent annually. The emissions associated with the VD and VOD lines should be practically reduced to zero.
The second direction concerns the digitalization of energy consumption. Sidenor will implement an online monitoring system for electricity and gas consumption in various production processes of the plant. The project includes the installation of new meters and the development of predictive models based on artificial intelligence.
This will allow the company to monitor consumption in real time, identify deviations, optimize the operation of the steelmaking plant and find additional opportunities to save energy. Digitalization is expected to save more than 3.6 thousand MWh of gas and about 3.2 thousand MWh of electricity annually, reducing emissions by about 1 thousand more. Tons of CO2 equivalent.
Both projects are part of the Sidenor decarbonization plan at the Basauri site, which was supported by the PERTE de Descarbonización Industrial 2024. The program is implemented by the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism with EU funding through NextGenerationEU.