At the Tubacex steel plant in Spain, a new system is transforming waste heat and water into valuable resources. Developed through the EU-funded iWAYS project, the innovative Heat Pipe Condensing Economiser (HPCE) recovers heat from the furnace and returns it to the production process, reducing gas usage and emissions. At the same time advanced water treatment technologies also clean and recycle up to 95% of industrial wastewater. Despite the challenge of installing the system without interrupting the plant’s 24-hour operations, the early results show significant energy, water and CO₂ savings. This is a significant step forward for sustainable steel manufacturing in Europe. |
