This particularly concerns the implementation of new and innovative steel production methods. For planning and managing these enormous challenges as well as ensuring sustainable steel production, a user-friendly digital platform for connected steel production is to be developed within the framework of the EU project “DiGreeS”* – under the leadership of Fraunhofer IZFP in Saarbrücken – together with a total of 11 European partners from industry and research. The European Union is funding the project with around 5 million euros.
It is present everywhere and we have all come into contact with it: the all-round material “steel”. It can be found, for example, in cars, ships, bridges, high-rise buildings, tools, and household appliances and is now indispensable. However, the production of this “all-round talent” currently places a considerable burden on our climate, particularly due to the high CO₂ emissions and enormous energy consumption required for the entire steel production.
Sustainable and Digital Steel Production
Within the framework of the EU project DiGreeS, which starts in November 2024, a user-friendly digital platform for connected steel production is to be developed. The goal of the 3.5-year project is the implementation of an integrated digitalization approach for the steel value chain: For example, improved utilization of industrial data collected along the process chain based on novel and “softer” sensors is to be enabled.
Optimized Product Quality, Fewer CO2 Emissions, Lower Energy Consumption, Lower Costs
As part of the research project, comprehensive digital twins are to be developed to improve the efficient verification of steel scrap, real-time control of crude steel production in the electric arc furnace, and the quality of intermediate and final products, as well as to increase process yield. In this context, the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies will also be fully exploited to support optimal use of process data. Various scenarios are modeled for three different use cases: The innovative digitalization solutions employed are intended to increase the product quality of steel products, the raw material and energy efficiency of the manufacturing process, and thus enhance their circularity. At the same time, the digital platform aims to reduce CO2 emissions from the steel industry by up to 6 million tons per year and save annual costs of up to 800 million euros.
DiGreeS Consortium:
The consortium consists of eleven partners from industry and research:
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft e. V.: Fraunhofer IZFP (lead coordination) (DE)
- K1-MET GmbH (AT)
- HUN-REN SZTAKI – Szamitastechnikai es automatisalasi kutatointezet (HU)
- VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut GmbH (DE)
- Fraunhofer Austria Research GmbH (AT)
- SPECTRAL Industries BV (NL)
- Tata Steel Nederland Technology BV (NL)
- Saarstahl AG (DE)
- voestalpine Steel & Service Center GmbH (AT)
- voestalpine group-IT GmbH (AT)
- ESTEP plateforme technologique européenne de l’acier (B)
* Demonstration of digital twins for a green steel value chain
