Stahlinstitut VDEh https://vdeh.de/en/steel-academy/seminars/international-seminars/seminar/ – 10.08.2026

Water is an essential resource in industrial processes, where it is widely used for process cooling, material treatment, and gas scrubbing. However, climate change is reducing water availability while increasing the salinity of many water sources, thereby limiting their suitability for industrial applications. At the same time, the transition to hydrogen-based steelmaking is expected to increase the demand for high-purity process water and intensify thermal loads in gas scrubbing and cooling circuits.

These challenges require innovative solutions that combine the recovery of waste heat, hydropower, water, and valuable solutes from industrial process streams with advanced water management strategies based on simulation and forecasting tools. Such integrated approaches can improve resource efficiency, reduce freshwater consumption, and support the decarbonisation of industrial production.

This workshop provides an overview of the latest developments in process water management, cooling circuits, and concentrate handling, with a particular focus on the recovery of energy, water, and valuable solutes from wastewater streams in the iron and steel industry. Leading research institutes, plant manufacturers, and representatives from the metal and steel industry will present innovative technologies, practical solutions, and recent project results that support the transition towards sustainable, circular, and climate-resilient water management.

R&D Projects on Process water reuse in steel plants

This workshop is organised within the framework of the EU-funded R&D projects EnWaRec and CORNERSTONE. The objective of these projects is to develop and demonstrate innovative technologies and digital tools for the recovery of energy, water, and valuable salts from industrial process water streams.

The workshop will present the latest results of the ongoing R&D activities and discuss their potential for implementation in the steel industry. It will provide a platform for technology developers, researchers, and industrial stakeholders to exchange knowledge, assess the applicability of the proposed solutions, and identify opportunities for supporting the transition towards more resource-efficient and sustainable steel production.

Partners involved in the projects:

VDEH-BETRIEBSFORSCHUNGSINSTITUT GMBH, Germany | AKTIEN-GESELLSCHAFT DER DILLINGER HUTTENWERKE, Germany | HUTTENWERKE KRUPP MANNESMANN GMBH, Germany | ACCIAIERIE D ITALIA SPA, Italy | RINA CONSULTING, Italy | AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS, Spain | INSTITUTO DE SOLDADURA E QUALIDADE, Portugal | QUEST HUB E.E., Greece | EASY HYDRO LIMITED, Ireland | UNIVERSIDAD DE OVIEDO, Spain | AALBORG UNIVERSITET, Denmark | TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT DARMSTADT, Gerrmany | AEE - INSTITUT FUR NACHHALTIGE TECHNOLOGIEN, Austria | ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXIS, Greece | CENTRE TECHNIQUE DE L INDUSTRIE DESPAPIERS CARTONS ET CELLULOSES, France | ESSITY OPERATIONS FRANCE, France | COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG, Germany | VEOLIA WATER TECHNOLOGIES TECHNO CENTER NETHERLANDS BV, Netherlands | MANN + HUMMEL GMBH, Germany | FUNDACIO UNIVERSITARIA BALMES, Spain | DECHEMA GESELLSCHAFT FUR CHEMISCHETECHNIK UND BIOTECHNOLOGIE, Germany | CENTRAL SOLUTIONS LIMITED, Ireland

Chairman:

Dipl.-Ing. Martin Hubrich

Price

Registration fee: 70 €* / 100 €

including lunch and beverages

* for staff of the EnWaRec and CORNERSTONE projects, employees of the member companies and individual members of the Steel Institute VDEh. A cancellation from the seminar is possible until 2 weeks prior to the start. Then, 25% of the seminar fee must be paid. The total registration amount will be charged for no show or cancellation from the first day of the event.

Venue

Steel Institute VDEh
Mr Peter Schmieding
Sohnstraße 6540237 Düsseldorf, Germany

Tel +49 211 6707-458
info_at_steel-academy.com / www.steel-academy.com

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