Demonstration of Digital Twins for a Green Steel Value Chain

Sustainable and digital steel production

The transition to low carbon and eco-friendly steel production in Europe requires a significant transformation of the steelmaking processes, particularly the introduction of new steelmaking routes. There is a strong need for enablers to plan and manage this revolution and ensure sustainable steel production. In this context, the steel production requires breakthrough technologies to reduce its environmental footprint as close to zero as possible. Additionally, a seamless digitalization of the production processes and skilled personnel are necessary to support and comprehend the transformation process.

Optimized product quality, lower CO₂ emissions, lower costs

DiGreeS – Demonstration of Digital Twins for a green steel value chain – will develop a user-friendly digital platform for networked production based on novel and soft sensors and related approaches and models to support efficient feedstock verification and realtime control of electric arc furnace crude steel production, increasing process yield while improving the quality of intermediate and final steel products.

The project will tackle these challenges by implementing an integrated digitalization approach throughout the steel value chain, to enable an enhanced use of the industrial data collected along the process chain and ensuring the uptake of human experiences for easier industrial integration.

Fraunhofer IZFP, one of the institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., will coordinate DiGreeS. Fraunhofer IZFP is an internationally renowned research and development institute for applied, industry-oriented research with headquarters in Saarbrücken. The institute's activities focus on the development of intelligent sensor and data systems for safety, sustainability and efficiency. The results of its R&D work are used in business and industry. The scientific-technological solutions support science and industry and at the same time contribute to shaping our society and our future.

In addition to customized sensor systems, sensor data management, data analysis and data value creation with AI and machine learning techniques, the R&D portfolio also includes extensive consulting activities in the field of standardization, among others. The understanding of technical testing and sensor physics is also complemented by technologies and concepts from AI research. The decades-long understanding of applications and processes for materials and the products made from them continues to form a solid basis and provides the impetus for Fraunhofer IZFP's expanded research mission in the future: By adding aspects of digital signal and information processing, novel applications in domains such as critical infrastructure, the food industry, the sustainable circular economy, and resource protection and conservation become possible.