On March 11 and 12, 2025, the General Assembly (GA) Meeting of the EU-funded project TWINGHY — Digital TWINs for Green Hydrogen transition in steel industry — took place in Bilbao, Spain. The IOB was represented by our colleagues Nico Schmitz, Alex Garcia-Vergara and Johannes Losacker. The project, which runs from February 1, 2023, to July 31, 2027, aims to convert the reheating furnace at the Celsa 3 steelworks to partial operation with hydrogen. The project meeting, at which the current progress of the work packages was discussed, was hosted by furnace manufacturer Fives.
After arriving in Bilbao and having lunch with the project partners, the GA began with presentations of the various work packages. Firstly, progress in the work package on burner development and industrial integration was discussed, as well as the integration of hydrogen in steel production. New hydrogen-capable burners are now being used. After a joint coffee break, the discussion went on with the conversion of the reheating furnace. Moreover, progress on the data-driven digital twin for the reheating process was discussed. Finally, on the first day, the IOB presented CFD simulations of the individual burners carried out in a laboratory environment.
On the second day, the morning began with a discussion of the evaluation of the research project’s key performance indicators. The key indicators include specific energy consumption, CO2 emissions, nitrogen oxide emissions and scale formation. IOB presented the metrics used for the analysis and their definitions. Following the meeting, the participants had the opportunity to visit the Celsa steelworks Global Steel Wire in Santander. The interesting tour of the steelworks started along the process chain at the scrap yard, where the various types of scrap are sorted and then recycled. The electric arc furnace and secondary metallurgy were then visited before the tour ended with continuous casting of steel billets. The last day of the project meeting was rounded off with an evening of pintxos, which is typical of the Basque Country. In this relaxed atmosphere, the participants were able to continue the discussions from the meetings in a pleasant atmosphere.
The IOB was also able to visit Tecnalia, a project partner of the HyInHeat research project, as both are based in the same city. In a meeting, the IOB was able to introduce itself personally and exchange research topics. There was also a tour of the Tecnalia laboratories.
We would like to thank FIVES for organizing the project meeting and look forward to the progress of the project until the next General Assembly Meeting.
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