BGH Edelstahl and Primetals Technologies have successfully completed the first melting tests of the Active Power Feeder at BGH’s electric arc furnace (EAF) in Siegen, Germany. The tests were completed on schedule and enabled stable furnace operation, the companies said.
The Active Power Feeder is a new power supply solution for EAFs based on a patented medium-voltage modular multilevel converter (MMC) developed by Primetals Technologies. Compared with conventional systems, the technology reduces energy consumption, delivers significantly improved flicker reduction, and shortens power-on times relative to static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) solutions.
The system maintains high power quality in line with utility requirements while keeping electrical losses low and supporting high furnace efficiency. At BGH, the Active Power Feeder was integrated into the existing EAF setup using a container-based design and installed around 200 metres from the furnace on a rooftop, demonstrating flexibility in plant layout. Extensive pretesting at Primetals’ facilities supported smooth commissioning.
The installation at BGH includes two parallel MMC units. The second converter was installed in December 2025 and commissioned from January 2026, with both units expected to operate in parallel at full capacity by mid-2026. The solution can be retrofitted to existing EAFs or applied to new installations, including sites with limited space.
BGH produces high-quality stainless steels and special alloys, including small-batch and custom grades. The company targets a 42pct reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 CO2 emissions by 2030 versus a 2021 baseline, and a 25pct cut in Scope 3 emissions over the same period.
