Siemens VAI Metals Technologies GmbH (Legelshurst, Germany):

Fleischer M., Dr., CEO
Dorndorf M., Dr., Head of R&D Electric Steelmaking, e-mail: markus.dorndorf@siemens.com
Abel M., Senior Expert, Electric Steelmaking

Siemens VAI Metals Technologies GmbH (Linz, Austria):

Zauner F., Process Engineer Technology Energy Efficiency

Apart from the metallic input materials, energy is the main cost driver in electric steelmaking today. The increasing energy-price trend indicates that even higher prices can be expected in the future. Next to the increasing energy costs, electric steelmakers face international agreements and national callings for a reduction of pollution and CO₂ emissions. These trends ask for advanced solutions to meet the environmental regulations and energy prices of today and those in the future. To stay competitive it is crucial for steelmakers to operate the EAF plant at a high degree of energy effi ciency. The potential of an EAF plant for energy savings is enormous but unfortunately not sustainably pushed in many cases. Key elements of energy savings can be found in the areas of scrap charging, preheating and melting, slag-free tapping as well as continuous power-on operation through all the process steps. Especially the collaboration of all these solutions set a new benchmark in electric steelmaking for lowering the specific energy consumption rate and related emissions to the environment. Applying today’s concepts, energy consumption at the EAF could be reduced by up to 30%.