After being recently designated as a Priority Project by the Castilla-La Mancha Regional Government, and recognised by the World Economic Forum as one of the five most innovative projects at a global level in the decarbonization of steel production, Hydnum Steel continues to make steady progress towards the construction of the first green steel plant in Spain, which will be located in Puertollano (Ciudad Real, Castilla La Mancha). The company has also just submitted its application to the Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) of Decarbonisation (Line 4), highlighting a pioneering approach that incorporates technological advances such as the Digital Twin developed by Siemens.
Hydnum Steel and Siemens have opted for an innovative digital concept for the plant. After passing the technological definition phase, the bases of the project have been established, which will integrate the use of the Digital Twin in all the production stages: from the design to the complete start-up of the steel plant. The aim is to radically reduce the carbon footprint, improve energy efficiency and the plant’s competitiveness, while strictly complying with environmental and sustainability regulations.
“The project will have a positive impact on reducing the carbon footprint not only in its own facilities, but also in key industries for the Spanish economy such as the automotive or naval sectors. It is, without a doubt, a project that is born with the vocation of reinforcing the strategic autonomy of the Spanish and European steel market,” Agustín Escobar, president and CEO of Siemens Spain, stressed.
Eva Maneiro, CEO of Hydnum Steel, emphasized that sustainability is the central pillar of the project: “It is not just about producing steel but doing it in a way that is fully aligned with global sustainability goals. By integrating advanced Siemens technologies, we ensure that every stage of our production process is efficient and, at the same time, actively contributes to the fight against climate change. Our commitment is to demonstrate that decarbonization and competitiveness can not only coexist but represent the future of the industry.”
The Siemens proposal includes a detailed pre-development process, which includes the different simulation tools presented in the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio. During the engineering phase, NX software will be used to create a complete digital model of the plant based on 100% environmental criteria. The Tecnomatix digital tool will enable the simulation and optimization of manufacturing processes, ensuring that each stage of production is efficient and sustainable.
The project also includes the integration of both Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) worlds of the new green steel factory from its origin, with the aim of immediately capturing all the valuable data generated by the plant in order to monitor, analyze and make the best decisions with the ultimate goal of reducing the carbon footprint as much as possible.
