The goal of the project is to promote the transition to environmentally friendly and low-carbon steel production in Europe and to implement new innovative methods of steel manufacturing. To achieve this, a user-friendly digital platform for connected and optimized steel production is being developed together with a total of eleven European partners from research and industry, under the leadership of Fraunhofer IZFP.
As part of the research project, innovative technologies such as digital twins, AI-based models, and advanced sensor technologies are being used to optimize the entire value chain of steel production – from raw material processing through production to finishing and steel recycling. The aim is not only to make steel production more energy-efficient in the medium term, but also to reduce CO2 emissions in the European steel industry by up to 6 million tons per year and save up to 800 million euros in costs annually. DiGreeS is funded by the European Union with around 5 million euros and has a duration of 3.5 years.
As part of the project, Saarstahl AG is working in close coordination with its French subsidiary, Saarstahl Ascoval, on the digitalization and optimization of crude steel production in the electric arc furnace (EAF), so that the findings can also be used for the plants to be built in the future as part of Power4Steel. An innovative system is being developed that optimizes the efficiency of the electric steel furnace through the use of real-time measurements and dynamic digital models.
“We want to use modern sensors and digital models to increase energy efficiency throughout the entire production process and significantly reduce the use of raw materials and energy. The expertise of our colleagues at Saarstahl Ascoval, who already successfully operate a 90-ton EAF, is particularly valuable,” says Dr. Barbara Ebel-Wolf, Head of Research & Development at Saarstahl.
“With DiGreeS, we want not only to increase the efficiency of our production, but also to make our contribution to the sustainable development of the steel industry,” says Jonathan Weber, Board Member for Transformation at Saarstahl AG. “The support of the European Union underscores the importance of this project and enables us to optimize processes through the intelligent use of data and AI technologies and make a significant contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions.”
