(Salzgitter) – Salzgitter AG, Avacon and Linde have put the “Windhydrogen Salzgitter – WindH2” project into operation. In the future, green hydrogen will be produced using electricity from wind energy on the site of the steelworks in Salzgitter, Lower Saxony.
“WindH2” is a central component of the “Salcos” (Salzgitter Low CO2 Steelmaking) technology project developed by Salzgitter AG. This should reduce CO2 emissions in the medium term and lead to almost CO2-free steel production in the long term. The newly built facility was opened in the presence of the Lower Saxony ministers Bernd Althusmann (Economy, Labor, Transport and Digital Affairs) and Olaf Lies (Environment, Energy, Building and Climate Protection), State Secretary Andreas Feicht from the Federal Ministry of Economics (BMWi) and the Chairman of the Board Johannes Teyssen (Eon SE), Marten Bunnemann (Avacon AG) and Heinz Jörg Fuhrmann (Salzgitter AG).
Reduce CO2 emissions by 95 percent in the long term
In the future, hydrogen produced from renewable sources will replace the carbon currently required for the smelting of iron ores. To achieve this, three blast furnaces must be gradually replaced by a combination of direct reduction systems and electric arc furnaces. Such a transformation of steel production could reduce its CO2 emissions by around 2050 percent by 95 (we reported).
Avacon, part of the Eon Group, operates seven newly built wind turbines with a total output of 30 megawatts on the Salzgitter AG site. Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH has installed two Siemens PEM electrolysis units with an output of 1,25 megawatts centrally on the factory premises, which generate around 450 cubic meters of hydrogen per hour. The industrial gas producer Linde currently delivers the gas by truck and, according to the company, will continue to ensure the continuous supply of hydrogen needs in the future. All systems are currently in trial operation.
With “WindH2”, the companies want to gain experience with the on-site production of wind power and hydrogen, as well as their integration into the complex procedures and processes of an integrated steelworks.
The costs for the entire project - construction of the wind turbines and hydrogen systems including their integration into the existing pipeline networks - amount to around 50 million euros. The construction of the electrolysis facility was funded by KfW. A further 1,1 million euros come from the BMWi’s “Energy Efficiency in the Economy” funding pot.
Photos
The “WindH2” project is entering trial operation / © Salzgitter AG
