Thanks to the "Best Available Technology" for effective exhaust gas cleaning in electric steel plants, FERALPI STAHL complies with all the prescribed values in terms of emissions and even falls below them considerably in most cases. Some pollutants are completely below the detection limit.

The main emissions generated during the production process in the steel and rolling mill are water vapour, dusts, organic and inorganic gases, heavy metals and various organic compounds, as well as waste heat and noise. Gaseous emissions include the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) as well as nitrogen oxides (NOX), especially from the roller mill lifting hearth furnace. Sulphur oxides (SO2) are emitted throughout the site due to the main energy sources used, electric power and natural gas, but their extent is not relevant.

  • Emissions of carbon dioxide

    FERALPI STAHL is committed to emissions trading in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Act (TEHG). Relevant for CO2 emissions trading is the electric steel plant with ancillary facilities as well as the hot rolling mill with the installed billet reheating furnace.

    Since 2017, these CO2 emissions have been at a low level. The reasons for this include the significantly higher purity of the scrap used, process optimisations at the electric furnace and the associated effective use of carbon-containing material as well as the direct use of the still-hot billets in the rolling mill.

  • Emissions of nitrogen oxides

    The NOX emissions of the steelworks and rolling mill have been at a very low level for years, thanks to process improvements and a better controlled natural gas supply at the electric furnace and lift-hearth furnace. The increased direct use of billets at the lifting hearth furnace also contributes to the reduction of emissions because it saves natural gas.

  • Emissions of dust and dioxins/furans

    The most important emissions caused by the steelworks process arise from the charging and melting process and from slag handling within the production hall. However, the limit value for dioxins and furans has been significantly undercut for years (by more than 80 percent) or kept at a constantly low level.

    The bottom line is that 99.9 percent of all dusts, dioxins and furans produced during steel production are filtered out by the dust collection system at FERALPI STAHL. This separation performance corresponds to the currently "Best Available Technology" for waste gas purification in electric steel plants. This technology has been included as a reference in the current EU BREF list for the iron and steel industry.

    The entire dedusting system of the steelworks is permanently monitored by recording all relevant process parameters. Continuous emission measuring devices are installed at the chimneys to monitor the clean gas entering the atmosphere. In addition, remote emission monitoring by the authorities has been implemented.

    FERALPI STAHL is active in the containment of so-called fugitive dust emissions, for example by regularly cleaning and humidifying the streets, enclosing critical areas such as the tipping and cooling area of the electric furnace slag.

  • Noise emissions

    Whether production processes, deliveries or scrap processing: there are very different sources of noise in a steelworks. The big challenge for FERALPI STAHL is the proximity to residential areas.

    In order to be able to precisely determine and classify existing noise sources, FERALPI STAHL has created a detailed noise register that generates a digital image of the plant with all sound sources. It is continuously updated. In coordination with the authorities, suitable measures are taken to reduce noise - for example, construction measures for noise protection such as closing roof openings and enclosing noisy machines in wire processing. Last but not least, the opening and closing of gates in the production areas, production-related handling and transport processes, operating times of noise-relevant equipment, etc. are precisely specified in work instructions.

    This is to keep noise pollution for nearby residential areas as low as possible.