The core of the project is the development of a digital twin of the heating network at the Duisburg-Hamborn site. This realistically maps flows, temperatures, and energy flows and is linked to an optimization model that evaluates the generation of heat, cooling, and electrical energy. On this basis, the project team is investigating flexibility options such as the use of heat storage systems, the integration of heat pumps, the use of additional waste heat sources, and the adjustment of central operating parameters.
The project started on October 1, 2025, with initial results expected in 2026.
Steel is contributing operating and grid data, examining the integration of additional waste heat sources, and evaluating control measures to increase the flexibility of heat consumers, generation capacities, and grid parameters. The provision of data has already been largely completed, and the investigation into the integration of additional waste heat sources has begun.
“The research project provides important insights for more efficient plant operation in an industrial environment in the context of climate-neutral production. By tapping into the potential for flexibility, energy costs can be reduced in times of high prices and CO2 emissions avoided beyond pure grid operation,” emphasizes Dr.-Ing. Simon Möhren, project manager at thyssenkrupp Steel. With this project, thyssenkrupp Steel will continue on its path toward climate-neutral production and also make a social contribution to security of supply at its Duisburg site.
