The distance we will go to help our clients capture carbon
Seven hundred and thirteen kilometers, to be exact. That’s how far our innovative new top-gas recovery turbine (TRT) travelled from its assembly point in Rathenow, Germany to ArcelorMittal’s steel plant in Gent, Belgium.
Residents of towns along the delivery route lined the streets to watch the incredible sight as the TRT rolled past. The logistics in moving such a massive piece of cargo included a plan for navigating tight turns; watch the video to see this in action:
Modern blast furnaces operate at high top-gas pressure. Downstream of the blast furnace, the gas is cleaned of dust and used in the plant for different purposes at a relatively low pressure.
Our turbine, developed using proprietary Hatch Küttner technology, transforms blast furnace top-gas pressure into clean energy, without emissions. It will replace the current setup at ArcelorMittel’s Gent plant, where high top-gas pressure is reduced by an angular gap element without using the energy during the expansion of the gas.
Once the new turbine is operational, it will generate about 57 GWh of electrical energy each year—equivalent to meeting the electricity requirements of 14,000 households. This will reduce energy costs significantly for the client and may create an additional revenue stream through the sale of excess power to the grid.
Partnering with clients to develop better ideas and unprecedented outcomes
Following a competitive bid process, we were appointed by Finarmit as a key supplier to provide project management for the scope of supply, including the design and delivery of the TRT and associated subsystems including hydraulics, loop oil, generator, seal gas system, spray water cabinet, generator protection cabinet, and exciter cabinet.
Finarmit is a subsidiary of FINEG NV, a public investment organization dedicated to supporting industrial decarbonization efforts in Flanders, Belgium. Through its special purpose vehicle, Finarmit, FINEG NV is financing the development of multiple sustainable energy projects at ArcelorMittal’s Gent site, including the installation of the TRT at blast furnace #B.
With the client’s Gent steel plant under pressure over carbon emissions from the EU, our innovative TRT will help them meet crucial targets to stay open. The production of energy from our TRT reduces CO2-equivalent emissions by around 21,000 tonnes per year (based on Germany’s CO2 emission per kWh in 2024).
“We’re grateful to be part of this project, combining sustainable technology with teamwork,” said Sebastian Buzga, project manager. “Our technology transforms blast furnace top-gas pressure into clean energy, without emissions.”
He added, “The real joy comes from working side by side with an equally passionate and motivated customer team. Every success so far has been built on our excellent collaboration, and I’m confident that together, we’ll bring the turbine to life with the same spirit and dedication.”
The project maintained a zero lost-time injury record for the duration of site works, which are now complete. Commissioning of the TRT happened at the beginning of November 2025.
About Hatch
Hatch is a global engineering, project delivery, and professional services firm. Whatever our clients envision, our teams can design and build. With over six decades of business and technical experience in the mining, energy, and infrastructure sectors, we understand that challenges are evolving rapidly. We respond with smarter, more efficient, and innovative solutions. With 10,000 staff across more than 150 countries, we challenge the status quo to create positive change for our clients, our employees, and the communities we serve.