Liberty Ostrava has signed a deal to procure from Danieli the two hybrid electric arc furnaces it plans to roll out in its bid to become carbon neutral by 2030.
Liberty initially outlined in 2020 its plan to replace blast furnace steelmaking with the EAFs, to use increased domestic scrap as feedstock and reduce CO2 emissions (see Kallanish passim).
The new EAFs entail an investment of CZK 8.6 billion ($352.7 million). Their combined capacity will be 3.5 million tonnes/year and they will reduce the overall CO2 emissions of the Ostrava steelworks by more than 80% by 2027.
The two 200-tonne furnaces use the innovative and patented Danieli QONE power electronics technology to control arc current and voltage for a more efficient and stable power delivery to the furnaces. This will allow the furnaces to be more flexible in the charge mix from large quantities of hot metal and direct reduced iron (DRI/HBI) and up to 100% scrap in the second phase of the project, Liberty says. The plant will thus reduce its reliance on imported coal and iron ore.
The new furnaces are expected to be operational in 2025 and will be able to melt 100% scrap in 2027 following the planned installation of a 400kV electricity line into the Ostrava steelworks.
Liberty has also launched the tender process for similar hybrid EAFs for its Galati plant in Romania. The group is targeting 10 million tonnes/year of “GREENSTEEL” capacity in Europe over the next five years.
Liberty Ostrava has also signed a Declaration of Cooperation with ČEZ ESCO, part of the ČEZ energy group. This partnership will identify and develop the renewable energy and hydrogen technologies required for Ostrava’s GREENSTEEL transformation.
Adam Smith Poland
