Colombian engineers introduce Finnish high-efficiency energy solution to transform Sogamoso's steel industry

Colombian engineers have successfully implemented a cutting-edge energy efficiency system for the first time in the country's steel industry, located in Sogamoso.

The plant was officially inaugurated on October 5th with an investment close to 4 million euros marking a significant milestone for energy sustainability in Colombia. The project, executed by Colombian engineers Carlos Felipe Salcedo and Manuel Bulla, has been initiated with the goal of generating annual electricity savings ranging from 15% to 20% for this large-scale plant dedicated to the production of earthquake-resistant steel bars for the construction industry.

Metal industry production requires a huge amount of energy to operate. By investing in energy efficiency, the energy required to make products can be reduced. To achieve these impressive energy savings, Bulla and Salcedo sought the expertise of Finnish company, Merus Power , known for its STATCOM (Static Synchronous Compensator) technology, specifically designed for optimal operation within the steel plant's furnace and rolling mill processes.

“The metal industry has enormous potential to improve energy efficiency. This can be done by improving power quality. We want to help our customers enhance their operations and meet the quality requirements of electricity networks. It is great that by supplying a high-quality static compensator, we can support a local Colombian steel company in energy efficiency and sustainable development,” says Kari Tuomala, CEO of Merus Power.

According to Carlos Felipe Salcedo, "The steelmaking process poses a significant challenge for engineering, which is why we turned to Merus Power, a company that supported us in customizing, manufacturing, and delivering the STATCOM device. It acts as a parallel compensator, belonging to the family of FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission Systems), capable of delivering or absorbing reactive power using power electronics for this purpose."

Manuel Bulla adds that "the STATCOM's controller, equipped with digital processing, control, protection, and communication elements, measures electrical system variables, including voltages, currents, powers, and harmonics, among others. It processes these variables through complex mathematical calculations and synthesizes a current signal to be injected into the system."

Mr. Bulla explains that "simultaneously, the controller monitors the system's stability to act in case of failure and protect the STATCOM. The signal synthesized by the controller is amplified by active modules and injected into the steel plant's electrical system at the voltage level of the facility."

Ricardo Prada, the manager of Grupo Siderúrgico Reyna, emphasizes the significance of reducing reactive power in the energy system, which is penalized under Colombian regulations when it exceeds certain limits. He highlights the company's commitment to sustainability, revealing that their efforts have already reduced CO2 emissions by 6% in the past year. In addition, they play a crucial role in the circular economy by utilizing 20,000 tons of recycled scrap monthly, sourced from 120 suppliers involving over 4,000 families.

With this newly launched project, the group takes a significant step toward optimizing energy-intensive operations in the steel industry, enhancing production times, and improving the energy efficiency indicators of the Sogamoso plant.

The Ambassador of Finland, Antti Kaski, emphasized commitment to combating climate change and achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. He noted that improving energy efficiency in all industries is a key element in this endeavor. Kaski sees this project as a significant step towards Colombia's sustainable development and a transition to cleaner energy, which Finland supports through its companies and innovations, such as those offered by Merus Power.

For more information please contact Team Finland Colombia:

• Roberto Requejo, Senior Advisor, Business Finland
• Rick Dellemann, Consultant in Colombia, Business Finland
• Susana Azula, Economic and Commercial Adviser, Embassy of Finland in Colombia