Electrification

HECO2 Theme 1 Electrification

Phasing out fossil fuels is a major challenge for the coming decades. To achieve this, industry will have to innovate to find more sustainable solutions. One of these possible solutions is the electrification of industrial processes. Reducing use of fossil fuels in industrial processes by using electricity is one of the objectives.

In the HECO2 Axis 1 electrification project, a consortium has been set up to develop electrification applications in industry.

First of all, the company Aperam (production of steel, stainless steel...) wants to electrify 5 MW_el on a 100 MW slab reheating furnace. A radiant tube heating system will be used for this purpose.                

Next, the glass producer AGC wants to install 10 MW_el in a 50 MW float furnace. To achieve this, electrodes will be directly used in the molten glass bath. Finally, John Cockerill will have to partially electrify an MHF furnace.

To reach these objectives, various partners are active in this project : the above-mentioned industrialists, CRM, GPAI and Universities of Brussels and Liège.

The Chemical Engineering research is in charge of the environmental aspects of this project and will apply Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in an eco-design approach.