Strategic systematic measures for energy efficiency at Třinec Iron and Steel Works (TŽ)
About this good practice
Třinec Iron and Steel Works (TŽ), the Czech Republic’s largest producer of long-rolled steel, operates in a global market that is experiencing rising energy costs and stricter EU emissions rules. To achieve its goal of fully sustainable production by 2030, TŽ has launched a comprehensive energy-transformation program. This multi-year initiative consists of over CZK 25 billion (≈ €1 billion) in investments, with CZK 1.5 billion (€ 60 million) allocated in 2024 alone. Central to the effort is ISO 50001 certification, which standardizes energy management: internal energy managers submit monthly data, and performance is measured by energy use per tonne of steel.
Key technical measures include overhauling furnace wind preheaters for better waste-heat recovery; modernizing burner systems; replacing natural gas with on-site metallurgical gases; and installing a patented gas-mixing station that maximizes by-product use, yielding a 94 % average energy recovery rate. These upgrades enhance competitiveness by insulating TŽ from natural-gas price swings and boosting efficiency. Complementary renewable projects—rooftop photovoltaics and smart LED lighting—advance energy self-sufficiency. Stakeholders include TŽ and its subsidiary Energetika Třinec, public funding bodies (e.g., the Modernization Fund) and downstream steel consumers. The program benefits the company, its workforce, the environment and the broader Czech industrial sector.
Resources needed
Over 1.5 billion CZK (≈60 mil. EUR) invested in 2024 as part of a larger 25 billion CZK (≈1 bil. EUR) program. Key projects received up to 50% co-financing from public funds (e.g. Modernization Fund). Implementation involved internal energy teams, engineers, and external contractors.
Evidence of success
TŽ achieved > 94% utilization rate of metallurgical gases, reducing natural gas dependence. Waste heat recovery upgrades cut CO₂ emissions by ~19,000 tonnes/year and lowered high furnace gas use by 30 million m³/year.
Potential for learning or transfer
The TŽ practice is highly transferable to energy-intensive steelmaking industries to decarbonize under EU Clean Industrial Deal and ETS pressures. Its key success factors are the systematic energy management (ISO 50001), integration of waste heat and by-product metallurgical gas reuse, and leveraging public national and EU funding. The innovative gas-mixing station is a very efficient fuel substitution, especially relevant for industries with internal fuel by-products.
Transfer potential is strongest in regions with steel industries (e.g., NUTS 2 regions like Moravia-Silesia, Silesian Voivodeship in Poland, or North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany). Possible barriers include high initial capital needs and complexity of currently used systems.
Further information
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