TOKYO STEEL MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. will start weekday daytime operation of electric furnaces that currently operate during the nighttime, at all its plants by 2030.

This will lead to the effective use of renewable energy, as electricity tend to be excessive due to the increased PV power generation. The company normally operates electric furnaces at night on weekdays when electricity costs are low, but in Kyushu, where PV power generation is widespread, the company has been operating some of its electric furnaces during the daytime already, in response to advance requests from the electric power company.

When operating during the daytime in response to requests from electric power companies, electricity costs can generally be reduced by more than 10% compared to normal daytime operation costs, so the company will also consider this option for electric furnaces in Okayama, Aichi and Tochigi prefectures by 2030, aiming to establish a system that will allow all electric furnaces to operate during the daytime by 2030.