A commitment to reducing CO2

ArcelorMittal Europe has committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030 and has an ambition to be carbon-neutral by 2050. The company is pioneering two breakthrough carbon-neutral technology routes as part of its strategy: Smart Carbon and innovative DRI (direct reduced iron). The Long Products business owns Europe’s only DRI-EAF (electric arc furnace) facility in Hamburg, where a project is planned to test the ability of hydrogen to reduce iron ore and form DRI on an industrial scale, as well as testing carbon-free DRI in the EAF steelmaking process.

ArcelorMittal to build biogas plant in Luxembourg to reduce CO2 emissions

ArcelorMittal envisages reducing its CO2 footprint by substituting part of its natural gas consumption with recourse to biogenic energy sources. In the context of its general sustainability policy, ArcelorMittal is also interested in valorising excess heat from its industrial site in the vicinity of the Rodange plant. As such, ArcelorMittal have signed two strategic memorandums of understanding - one with Vow ASA and one with Encevo - to work on projects to build a biogas production plant that will reduce CO2 emissions produced during the steelmaking process. The aim is to have the Rodange biogas plant operational in 2023.

Engineering, business models, and financing with Vow ASA

Specialist provider of technology for decarbonising industry Vow ASA’s subsidiary ETIA and ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products, a leader in the production of sections, sheet piles, rails, and quality wire rod, will work together to build the first dedicated biogas plant for the steel industry using ETIA’s pyrolysis technology at ArcelorMittal Rodange in Luxembourg. ArcelorMittal Rodange specialises in the production of grooved rails, used mainly for tram projects around the world.

Patented pyrolysis technology
The two companies will cooperate on engineering, business models, and financing. The biogas will be made using Vow’s patented ‘Biogreen’ pyrolysis technology, which involves heating sustainable biomass at high temperatures. The gases emitted during this process are then captured and processed into biogas, which will directly replace the use of natural gas in the Rodange plant’s rolling mill reheating furnace. By-products such as bio-coal will also be created during the process and re-used within ArcelorMittal, directly replacing the use of coal.

The Rodange biogas plant will be ETIA’s first industrial-scale pilot project for this specific application, and the intention is for similar plants to be built in Europe thereby increasing the CO2 emissions saved from replacing the use of natural gas.

Combining steelmaking expertise with advanced technology
“We are very pleased to be working with Vow ASA, combining our expertise as steelmakers with Vow and ETIA technology to create this biogas plant for ArcelorMittal Rodange. We see significant potential in the use of biogas as a replacement for natural gas within ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products’ facilities and in helping us to achieve our ambition of being carbon-neutral by 2050. This technically challenging project is truly ground-breaking in its ability to create synthetic gas for industrial use from sustainable biomass,” said Vincent Cholet, CTO of ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products.

“We are very excited and committed to this cooperation, helping ArcelorMittal on their mission towards a CO2-neutral future in steel production. We see this as the beginning of a prosperous long-term collaboration,” added CEO of Vow ASA Henrik Badin.

A technical concept with Encevo

The Encevo Group, through its subsidiaries Enovos S.A. and LuxEnergie S.A., will also cooperate on the development of the biogas plant and heat valorisation project in Rodange.

Refining the concept together
Enovos has, notably through its affiliate LuxEnergie, extensive experience in the design, construction, and operation of biomass-based plants and in the sourcing and handling of energy wood. Enovos has strong experience in the development of energy installations using renewable sources and has deep knowledge of the relating regulatory environment.

The parties have agreed to develop and further refine the technical concept for the biomass plant and heat valorisation project. When it comes to the heat valorisation, it is intended to launch the development of the concept in the course of this year and thus to be able to build up the basic prerequisites for a later distribution of heat to buildings located in the vicinity of the Rodange site.

Partnering for innovative solutions
Vincent Cholet, CTO of ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products notes: “We are very pleased to have engaged in a cooperation with Enovos and LuxEnergie with the goal of identifying a technically and economically satisfactory solution for the design, construction, and operation of a biogas plant and a heat valorisation project on the Rodange site. We searched and found in Enovos and LuxEnergie strong partners with which we can address the challenges of the energy transition and decarbonisation in our plants in Luxembourg.”

Adding to this, Claude Seywert, CEO of Encevo Group, said that “the signing of this partnership by our subsidiaries Enovos and LuxEnergie underlines the Encevo Group's commitment to decarbonisation. Industry in general and the steel industry in particular are facing huge challenges to reduce their climate-related emissions in the upcoming years. Encevo Group sees itself as the natural partner of the industry to accompany and support them in their decarbonisation efforts and would like to contribute with its competence and know-how to find technically feasible and financially viable solutions.”

Text:
ArcelorMittal
ArcelorMittal Luxembourg
Constructalia

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ArcelorMittal

Video:
ArcelorMittal

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