Vattenfall - Vargön alloys

Vargön Alloys re-uses energy

Vargön Alloys AB, one of Europe’s largest producers of ferro chrome, uses energy recovery to reduce environmental impact.

Based in Sweden, Vargön makes alloys that give steel added hardness and resistance to corrosion. With its own laboratory, Vargön Alloys can tailor alloys to meet specific needs. And with local inventories and agents throughout Europe, customers get exceptional service. “Our vision is to be a highly reliable partner for the European steel industry, with innovative and efficient production, and a high level of service,” says Mikael Norrman, CEO of Vargön Alloys.

Energy recovery

Vargön Alloys also wants to maintain low environmental impact. Here, energy recovery plays a significant role. Mr Norrman explains: “In total, the quantities of energy we recover correspond to half of the energy put into the process.”
Super-heated high pressure steam is used by Holmen Paper AB, a neighbouring company, and hot water is delivered to the district heating plant.

Vattenfall helps maintain energy

Vargön Alloys uses a lot of electricity – 750-850 GWh per year – meaning the price of electricity can seriously affect production. For a period in 2003, production was discontinued because of high electricity prices. Today, Vattenfall helps minimise the affects of fluctuation. “For part of our annual needs, we have a long-term agreement with Vattenfall that is better suited to the prevailing conditions of the electricity market,” says Mr Norrman. The current agreement is effective for 2005 through 2007 and involves electricity supply, portfolio management and purchases of heat.

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