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Editorial
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we welcome you to the second newsletter of the FLEX4FACT project! Over the past months, substantial progress has been made as our project partners have diligently focused on enhancing the flexibility of our project's use cases. An initial step involved the detailed mapping of the five industrial use cases, resulting in key achievements such as the development of the FLEX4FACT System Reference Architecture, the SanFlex Decision Support Tool, and the creation of several Digital Twins.
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In this newsletter edition we would like to introduce to you one of our industrial use cases: CELSA Group. In an interview project manager Irene Garcia Martinez from CELSA explains the challenges her company faces in the steel industry and the objectives to be achieved by participating in the FLEX4FACT project. Furthermore, you will learn about the project's dissemination activities, including a joint webinar with the EU projects TRINEFLEX and FLEXIndustries, conference visits, as well as our first project publications. Moreover, you will gain insights into some of the initial results and deliverables of the project.
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To stay up to date with the latest developments of the FLEX4FACT project, you can check out our website www.flex4fact.eu or follow us on LinkedIn and X, where you will find additional news and insights about the project.
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We hope you will be enjoying this second issue,
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Use Case Presentation - CELSA
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CELSA Group is one of the leading European multinationals in steel production and is moving towards a more sustainable and circular production. The CELSA Group Melt Shop in Barcelona is one of the industrial sites of the FLEX4FACT project. The main objective to be achieved under the FLEX4FACT project is to increase the flexibility potential in the meltshop and the optimization of the energy consumption in the electric arc furnances. In an interview with Irene Garcia Martinez, a European project manager in the Corporate Innovation Department at CELSA, she talks about the motivation of CELSA to contribute to the FLEX4FACT project, as well as main results and upcoming steps for the use case.
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European Project Manager in the Corporate
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Innovation Department at CELSA
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Please briefly introduce your company CELSA and it’s role in the steel industry.
CELSA Group is a multinational steelrecycling company founded in 1967. The company is headquartered in Barcelona (Spain) and has industrial presence in other parts of Spain, France, UK, Poland and the four Nordic countries. CELSA Group produces steel out of scrap, following only the secondary steelmaking process (use of Electric Arc Furnaces). The company is specialized in long products such as reinforcement bars, wire rod, and merchant bars, as well as other steel-related solutions.
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The company follows a vertical integrated business model, which means that it controls different stages of the steel production process, from the recycling of scrap metal to the manufacturing of finished products. This approach allows CELSA Group to be more sustainable and environmentally conscious, as the circular economy is a key target of its operations: the company is committed to achieve zero waste by 2035 and a net positive company by 2050.
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CELSA Group's role in the steel industry is significant, as it supplies steel products to numerous sectors, including construction, automotive, infrastructure, and manufacturing. Its commitment to sustainability and innovation has made it a key player in the global steel market, contributing to the development of modern, environmentally steel solutions while meeting the diverse needs of its customers.
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What were the main challenges that prompted CELSA to participate in the FLEX4FACT project?
The main objective of this project is to increase the flexibility of production from different areas. As a result, the company is looking to reduce energy costs, increase efficiency and reduce lead times. All this, without compromising the current quality of the products.
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What is the focus of the CELSA use case and what solutions will be implemented?
The use case encompasses three objectives. The first is to create an aggregator platform capable of forecasting electricity prices, thereby facilitating the adaptation of production to optimal price scenarios. The second objective is to develop algorithms that enhance production flexibility, while accommodating specific operational constraints. The third objective involves continuous monitoring of industry flexibility, achieved by predicting potential failures through the analysis of historical data from the meltshop, thereby ensuring the reliability and efficiency of operations in the steel manufacturing process. Together, these industrial cases will contribute to optimize production and resource management in the steel industry.
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What are the upcoming project steps and activities for CELSA?
Upcoming steps of the use cases will be related to providing more historical data to improve the models, cybersecurity and integration assessments and testing and evaluation.
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What benefits does CELSA expect from its participation in the FLEX4FACT project for the company?
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CELSA Group has integrated into its DNA a sustainable production model that allows it to position itself as a key agent of the ecological and fair transition. The company’s purpose is to give infinite lives to finite resources. We firmly believe in the need to continue promoting growth based on a balance between the environmental, social and economic spheres. And we are going to continue on this path to be able to achieve a great challenge: to become a Net Positive company by 2050.
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Flex4Fact and other R&D&I projects we are involved in will help us reach our goal.
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Dissemination Report
The FLEX4FACT consortium has actively engaged with stakeholders through communication and dissemination events. These initiatives include joint webinars, conference participation, and the publication of articles and reports:
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Unlocking Energy Flexibility for Sustainable Industrial Processes – Joint Webinar
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On October 23, 2023, the FLEX4FACT project hosted a joint webinar focusing on energy flexibility in the industrial sector together with two projects funded under the same call - TRINEFLEX and FLEXIndustries. This webinar provided a platform for presenting innovative approaches and solutions aimed at enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of industrial processes.
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The recording of the webinar is available on the Youtube channel of the FLEX4FACT project here:
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Processes4Planet Project Forum
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Our technical project coordinator Chiara Caccamo presented the FLEX4FACT project at the Processes4Planet Project Forum in Brussels during a panel discussion focused on decarbonisation.
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Paper presentation at CIO2023
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Our project partner UPC presented two papers based on FLEX4FACT findings at the CIO2023 in Barcelona:
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- The Impact of Electricity Tariffs on Optimal Production Scheduling
- Industrial Energy Cluster Optimization using Felxibility Aggregation
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Processes4Planet Projects Booklet
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FLEX4FACT was featured in the Processes4Planet Projects Booklet. The booklet compiles the 27 projects funded by the European Union through the Processes4Planet co-programmed partnership between 2021 and 2022.
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International Conference on Innovation in Aviation and Space for Opening New Horizons
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On September 7th, FLEX4FACT was presented at the 13th EASN International Conference in Italy. The presentation by Olga Ogorodnyk (SINTEF) highlighted the project's goals and discussed the potential for on-demand energy transition in aerospace.
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Published Deliverables:
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We are happy to share the publication of several deliverables that mark significant progress in the FLEX4FACT project:
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- D1.2 FLEX4FACT Reference Architecture, Standard and Protocols, Cyber Security: This report focuses on the development of a reference architecture for FLEX4FACT at the system level. It outlines design principles, main system components, and their interrelationships. Additionally, it sets high-level requirements to guide subsystem development, including standards, protocols, and cybersecurity. (Weblink)
- D4.3 Technical report: Required data definition for developing and executing the algorithms for optimizing planning and scheduling of the manufacturing processes: Work Package 4 is making strides in developing a flexible production planning and control system that combines energy flexibility with manufacturing constraints. This report, Deliverable D4.3, defines the data necessary for optimization algorithms. (Weblink)
- D7.1 Communication, dissemination, and exploitation: Learn about our strategy for communication, dissemination, and exploitation (CDE) activities throughout the project's lifecycle. The CDE plan outlines objectives, target groups, key messages, and communication channels to ensure effective outreach. (Weblink)
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Want to know more about the project developments? Then take a look at our latest press release to learn about the SanFlex Decision Support Tool, the Digital Twin Development etc.
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Interesting conferences and events
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European Sustainable Energy Week
11-13 June 2024
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101058657.
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