ArcelorMittal Eisenhüttenstadt will construct a pilot electrolysis plant and a hydrogen filling station on the plant site in collaboration with energy provider Vulkan Energiewirtschaft Oderbrücke (VEO), a joint venture between the city of Eisenhüttenstadt and ArcelorMittal, and McPhy Energy.
Two 1 MW McLyzer electrolysers will be provided as part of the creative demonstration project. A lengthy 5-year service contract was also agreed upon. The initiative is receiving 5.1 million euros from the state of Brandenburg as part of the local innovation cluster.
Hydrogen produced by the electrolysers will be used directly in the manufacture of steel. The cold rolling mill will be the first place the hydrogen is employed. Some of the hydrogen produced is used at the hydrogen filling station to refill forklifts or trucks. The oxygen produced during electrolysis is also to be recycled locally in manufacturing, such as in the hot rolling mill.
Another objective is to maximise the production site’s overall energy efficiency by putting brand-new smart operating modes to the test in practical settings. By applying an intelligent strategy to govern aircraft functions, they should make it possible to select the ideal software and hardware combination to increase system performance – analogous to software improvement in aircraft.
The initiative is receiving scientific support from the Brandenburgish Technical University (BTU) Cottbus-Senftenberg, which is also examining data from hydrogen consumption at the demonstration plant to increase efficiency and help further development of electrolysers.
