EAF steelmaking is the key technology for decarbonised steelmaking, either in scrap-based plant by modification of existing processes for further decarbonisation, or as new EAF installations in decarbonised integrated steel works to (partly) replace the classical BF-BOF production. At same time the EAF is the most important example for modular and hybrid heating, already now combining electric arc heating with burner technologies. Consequently, it was selected as main focus of GreenHeatEAF for the Call „Modular and hybrid heating technologies in steel production“. GreenHeatEAF develops and demonstrates the most important decarbonisation approaches at EAFs including the use of hydrogen to replace natural gas combustion in existing or re-vamped burners or innovative technologies like CoJet. Furthermore, decarbonisation of EAF steelmaking by solid materials like DRI/HBI and renewable carbon sources like biochar is tackled. Technologies to re-optimise the heating management with maximum heat recovery of off-gas and slag employing new sensor and soft-sensor concepts as well as extended digital twins are developed: as result the extended CFD and flowsheeting models, and monitoring and control tools will prognose the influences of the different decarbonisation measures on EAF and process chain to support upcoming decarbonisation investments and to enable the control of decarbonised hybrid heating with maximum energy efficiency. GreenHeatEAF combines trials in demonstration scale, e.g. in combustion- and EAF-demo plants, with validations in industrial scale and digital optimisations with high synergy. Thus, it completely follows the Horizon Twin Transition and Clean Steel Partnership objectives and the target to progress decarbonisation technologies from TRL 5 to 7. This synergic concept of GreenHeatEAF supports implementation and digitisation to speed up the transition of the European steel industry to highly competitive energy-efficient decarbonised steel productio

"Context/background of the projectCollegesWales is the national organisation that represents the 13 Further Education institutions (FEIs) in Wales. There has been a merger of two colleges since the application was submitted which is why there is a difference in the number of FEIs between application and final report stages. One of the main reasons for carrying out this project was to raise the aspirations of young people currently undertaking vocational education and training in Wales by empowering them to participate actively in society, not just in Wales but further afield in Europe. This experience has built their confidence, enhanced their technical & soft skills and improved their employability. This opportunity has also encouraged them to develop friendships & networks beyond their current comfort zone giving them opportunities to learn a new language & enjoy different cultural experiences. The objectives of the project were to enable participants to: -explore and deepen their knowledge of their vocational subject within a European context and within, at times, a totally different working environment -consider future employment opportunities in Europe within their chosen field -enhance their professional profile and employability by providing evidence of having acquired additional professional skills during their work placements overseas as well as enhancing their personal communication and team-working skills through working with their European counterparts - support the European tools for transparency and portability of qualifications For the consortium members and the receiving organisations, the project has enabled them to develop and strengthen partnerships across a range of curriculum areas and to contribute to the European Commission's objective to improve and modernise VET education across Europe. The project has also supported the EU transparency tools for qualifications and enabled vocational learners and apprentices to become more work mobile across Europe. Number and profile of participantsThere were 345 participants in this project - 338 were full time VET learners from FE colleges across Wales studying national vocational qualifications (NVQs or BTECs) at either Level 1, 2 or 3 and who were defined as those whose studies typically include work-based learning. There were 7 apprentices in the project - 5 Engineering apprentices and 2 Business apprentices. Across the whole project, there were 18 curriculum areas with participants undertaking work placements in 9 European countries: Childcare, Travel & Tourism, Hair & Beauty, Spa Therapy, Catering, Sport, Outdoor Education, Animal Care, Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering, Agriculture, Construction, Motor Vehicle Engineering, Equine Management, Electrical Engineering, IT, Interactive Media & Graphics and Creative Media. Activities The participants undertook two week training periods in companies/businesses/primary schools in 9 European countries. The work placements and/or training that the participants undertook overseas took into account the qualifications that the target group of participants were working towards in Wales and identified learning outcomes that were to be achieved during the training period that could contribute to the achievement of that qualification. Europass Mobility was also obtained by some of the participants to provide evidence of the learning achieved. Impact and longer term benefitsThe impact of these opportunities on individual participants was significant and led to some participants having the confidence to consider working in a different country in the near future or later in life. Here is a quote from one young learner “I worked in a tourist information centre. I was dealing with international tourists. Working aboard was a challenge and I now have more confidence and independence – when I was catching the train by myself every day. Now I would have the courage to apply for jobs abroad.” Travel and tourism student (GLLM) Returning participants stated that they would recommend this experience to others and this enthusiasm, when shared with peers, should increase the numbers of participants from Wales taking part in mobility projects. An Animal Care learner from Pembrokeshire College said “Apply, it will change your life"" and “It was my first time abroad and it could not have been more rewarding.” For some of the participating organisations, taking part in this type of activity had a positive impact on student intake into specific curriculum areas within that organisation. When undertaking schools visits, many of the sending organisations talk about the opportunities for overseas travel through Erasmus+ and this enhances and enriches teaching and learning experiences for staff and learners in the FE colleges in Wales."

The main objective of HyInHeat is the integration of hydrogen as fuel for high temperature heating processes in the energy intensive industries. While some of the equipment is already presented as hydrogen-ready, the integration of hydrogen combustion in heating processes still needs adoption and redesign of infrastructure, equipment and the process itself. HyInHeat realizes the implementation of efficient hydrogen combustion systems to decarbonize heating and melting processes of the aluminium and steel sectors, covering almost their complete process chains. To reach this overarching objective within the project, furnace and equipment like burners or measurement and control technology but also infrastructure is redesigned, modified and implemented in eight demonstrators at technical centres and industrial plants. Besides hydrogen-air heating, oxygen-enriched combustion and hydrogen-oxyfuel heating is implemented to boost energy efficiency and to decrease the future hydrogen fuel demand of the processes. This might result in a total redesign of the heating process itself which will be supported by simulation methods enhancing digitalisation along the value chain. Since critical production processes are converted, it is a fundamental requirement to maintain product quality and yield. Priority is also given to the refractory lining to prove sustainability. From an environmental perspective, new concepts for NOx emission measurement in hydrogen combustion off-gas are developed. Material flow analysis and life cycle analysis methods will support the comprehensive cross-sectorial evaluation, which allows the determination of the potential for the implementation of hydrogen heating processes in energy intensive industry. With these activities, HyInHeat contributes to the objectives of decreasing CO2 emission of the processes while increasing energy efficiency in a cost competitive way keeping NOx emission levels and resource efficiency at least at the same level.