Guide to good energy practices and decarbonization in forges and foundries. Savings and decarbonization at low investment cost

Since the end of regulated tariffs, gas and electricity prices have been subject to market fluctuations. The strong post-Covid global economic recovery and the conflict in Ukraine have led to extremely sharp rises in energy prices. Faced with these new conditions, companies have made controlling their energy costs, and therefore their consumption, a top priority. In forges and foundries, energy, mainly used to heat metal, is a major component of production costs and competitiveness. That is why the Forge Fonderie Federation, GRDF, GRTgaz, ALLICE and CETIM have joined forces to produce this guide to best practices in energy efficiency for thermal uses in the industry. These best practices for optimizing and reducing energy consumption are the cornerstone of any decarbonization approach. The aim of this guide is to highlight simple, low-cost actions with a rapid return on investment. The guide comprises 18 action sheets divided into two themes: 1 - Technical actions on furnaces and heating tools: 11 actions; 2 - Organizational or design actions: 7 actions. These action sheets are designed to be highly operational, and are intended both for teams working in the field (production, maintenance, etc.) and for management teams (decision-makers, project managers, etc.). They are structured as follows: Context and issues: a brief presentation of the objectives set out in the sheet; Benefits of the action; How to take action: a description of the action to be taken; Technical and economic benefits of the action; Financing: a presentation of public financing assistance schemes, if any; Feedback: where possible, feedback from a foundry or blacksmith is provided