14. March 2025

Project for Energy Optimization in Thermal Process Technology

In heat treatment, about 40% of the energy used in industry is consumed by thermal process plants and industrial furnaces. This corresponds to an enormous cost volume of around 30 billion euros. Despite having already achieved energy savings, the average annual energy consumption over the last decade is about 270 TWh. To further reduce this high energy consumption, the project “PAULA” has been initiated, which is funded by the European Union as part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Just Transition Fund (JTF).

The goal of the project is to increase energy efficiency through optimized furnace loadings by utilizing AI-based methods.

As part of the project, a software tool is being developed by TTC Informatik GmbH in collaboration with BO-I-T, Industrial Analytics Lab, and VTN, which supports users in planning their processes and provides suggestions for efficient plant occupancy. Manual planning is continuously compared with calculated plans, while the software tool displays optimization suggestions for the processes.

The resulting reduction in CO2 emissions during heat treatments not only actively contributes to climate protection but also leads to cost savings for companies and secures their competitiveness. With funding from the European Union and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection, and Energy of the state of NRW, this project will make an important contribution to sustainable development in the industry.