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ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe Racks up Savings with Smart Energy Efficiency Program
03/04/2011 - ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe is reporting impressive results for the energy efficiency program it launched last year to further reduce energy costs at all of its production locations.
ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe is reporting impressive results for the energy efficiency program launched last year to further reduce energy costs at all of its production locations. Thus far, the company has identified a potential savings at the Siegerland, Bochum and Dortmund sites of some 12.5 million euros, as well as the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 78,000 tons by the end of the implementation phase in 2014. Linked to this is a reduction in energy requirements by 300,000 megawatt hours of electricity – equivalent to the annual power and heat consumption of 10,000 households or the CO2 absorption capacity of almost 2.6 million trees.
According to the company, 95% of the energy savings are to be achieved through equipment modifications, for which investment of around eight million euros will be needed. For example, plant units will be switched off automatically when not in use and the operating temperatures of the coating lines will be reduced. Further measures include replacement of existing shop heating systems with natural gas heating, the upgrading of insulation, reducing the capacity of pumps in the cooling systems, and intensifying coolant recycling.
The company has also identified significant potential energy savings for a number of smaller measures that each individual employee can actively support, such as turning down the heating in the office or “economizing” on the opening of entrance gates.
Including the Duisburg location, which only began to implement the program on two units in December 2010, the company has identified a savings potential of over 14 million euros to date. Given that a whole range of energy-intensive facilities are operated in Duisburg’s hot metal area, project managers are expecting further potential savings that could run into millions.
“We are proud that including the new program we have saved the staggering total of almost 45 million euros in energy alone since 2009,” said Dr. Ulrich Jaroni, Director of Production at ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG. “Our new program to increase energy efficiency has been developed for the longer term so that we can systematically continue along the path we started out on two years ago. In view of the continuously increasing energy and raw materials prices worldwide, the savings will benefit not only the company but also the environment”.
The company said the program is to be permanently incorporated into the continuous improvement process at ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG.
