A new development of thin slab casting and direct rolling is Endless Strip Production (ESP). Construction of an ESP plant by Arvedi started in 2008 in Cremona (Italy). The energy consumption of the process is much lower as compared to conventional rolling operations. For thin plates, supression cold rolling and annealing provide even largers savings. Besides reduced energy consumption, the process reduces the amounts of other consumables and improves yield (~98%) (Worrell et al., 2010. p. 99). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) energy guide, Energy Efficiency Improvement and Cost Saving Opportunities for the U.S. Iron and Steel Industry, discusses energy efficiency practices and technologies that can be implemented in iron and steel manufacturing plants. This guide provides current real world examples of iron and steel plants saving energy and reducing cost and carbon dioxide emissions.
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/business/industry/Iron_Steel_Guide.pdf?25eb-abc5