The Swedish steel manufacturing giant Alleima has announced a groundbreaking investment in power quality improvement technology, marking a significant step in its ongoing sustainability journey. The company is implementing a static compensator, STATCOM, system from Hitachi Energy at its Sandviken Industrial Park facility, addressing power stability challenges while advancing its environmental goals.
The transformation comes as part of Alleima's comprehensive strategy to reduce its carbon footprint through multiple initiatives. Over recent years, the company has steadily increased its use of fossil-free fuels in heat treatment processes and enhanced heat recovery systems for facility heating. This latest investment in STATCOM technology represents a crucial advancement in managing power quality issues that have affected production efficiency.
At the heart of the upgrade is the challenge posed by the electric arc furnace melting process, which creates rapid voltage and current fluctuations known as flickering. These fluctuations have historically impacted power quality and contributed to energy losses throughout the industrial park. The new STATCOM system will significantly reduce these issues, improving overall energy efficiency and power stability across the facility.
Carl von Schantz, President of the Tube division, emphasizes the strategic importance of this investment for future operations. The upgrade not only secures necessary power supply for current needs but also creates a foundation for future expansions and carbon reduction initiatives. This forward-thinking approach aligns with Alleima's long-term sustainability objectives and growth plans.
The benefits of this technological advancement extend beyond Alleima's immediate operations. According to Ulrika Silver, site manager for Alleima Sandviken, the upgrade will positively impact all companies within the industrial park. Many businesses on site have expressed interest in expanding their operations while improving their environmental performance, and this infrastructure improvement supports these collective ambitions.
Hitachi Energy's Country Managing Director in Sweden, Tobias Hansson, highlights the significance of this collaboration, noting that their advanced STATCOM technology will contribute to increased stability and reliability in Alleima's steel production processes. The partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to innovation and quality in sustainable industrial operations.
The implementation timeline for this significant infrastructure upgrade has been set, with the STATCOM facility expected to become operational after summer 2026. This timeline reflects the scale and complexity of integrating such advanced power management systems into existing industrial infrastructure while ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
