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No single solution for decreased energy consumption – worldsteel

27th February 2015

  

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Steel industry body the World Steel Association (worldsteel) earlier this month published a new technical report on energy use in the steel industry, highlighting that there is no single solution for steel plants to decrease their energy intensity and identifying the main factors that affect the energy intensity of steel plants.

The report comprises five sections, including process routes and energy boundaries, energy assessment model methodology and its benchmarking benefits, the economic aspects of energy investments, general processes and techniques, and energy-source use in metallurgical plants. It also details 20 case studies showcasing best practice.

The report points out that the main opportunities for energy savings in the future will come from the optimal selection of production processes and raw materials, increased use of economically available scrap, the transfer of best practice methodologies, waste heat recovery and reduction of yield losses.

Some of the report’s findings of energy use in the steel industry include the average energy intensity for the iron-ore route and for the recycled materials route, which uses scrap metal through electric arc furnaces.

Further, the report details that the type of energy source, raw material quality and ferrous scrap content directly affects the greenhouse-gas emissions intensity of steel plants. These intensity levels are shown on a global basis using both the iron-ore and the scrap routes.

“Energy use is one of the key challenges facing today’s steel industry and the efficient use of energy has always been one of the steel industry’s key priorities. Over the last 40 years, the steel industry has reduced its energy consumption for every ton of steel by 50%,” says worldsteel director general Edwin Basson.

Nevertheless, he adds that the cost of energy accounts for 15% to 20% of the total cost of steel production and that energy consumption is directly related to the industry’s environmental impact.

“Therefore, it is imperative for steel producers to take every possible opportunity to evaluate and implement practices that decrease energy intensity or use all the available energy sources to remain sustainable and competitive,” says Basson.

The report comes with a compact disc that includes case studies, a list of energy-saving technologies, a book of definitions, a list of checkpoints in the energy-use methodology, a user guide for the Web-based energy assessment or benchmarking tool, and energy report results and analyses stretching back to 1998.

The report is the result of a project supported by worldsteel member companies and associations; the outcome contains current performance data from operating plants.

About the World Steel Association
Worldsteel is one of the largest and most dynamic industry associations in the world, representing about 170 steel producers, including nine of the world’s ten largest steel companies, national and regional steel industry associations and steel research institutes. Worldsteel members represent around 85% of global steel production.

Edited by Samantha Herbst
Creamer Media Deputy Editor

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