Warm Charging

In March 2022, the GBCA acknowledged that our Warm Charging technique qualified as a valid Energy-Reducing Process (ERP), which delivers one Green Star point in the GBCA ‘Design & As Built’ tools from the use of reinforcing products made using InfraBuild manufactured steel. The formal notification is in GBCA FAQ 256: Green Star FAQs - Green Building Council Australia (GBCA).

Warm Charging involves minimising the time between a billet being cast at InfraBuild’s EAFs at Laverton and Rooty Hill, and when it enters the rolling mills at those sites, when the billet is rolled into reinforcing bar, rod or wire products.

During rolling, the billet must be hot enough to be rolled into the final shapes. This is achieved by placing it in a gas-fired reheat furnace. At the stage it enters the reheat furnace, different billets can vary in temperature, which makes a difference to the time they need to sit in the reheat furnace.

When done consistently and effectively, Warm Charging can deliver significant savings in gas use and carbon emissions by minimising the time between a billet being cast and when it enters the reheat furnace.

A third-party, independently verified update is done annually on our use of Warm Charging, based on the completed financial year’s use of Warm Charging, to ensure we continue to meet the GBCA’s requirements.  The successful verification is reflected in our annual ERP Certificate, available below.  The ERP Certificate is a retrospective certification that covers the previous financial year.

This initiative forms part of InfraBuild’s goal to be a low emission steel maker by 2030.  Our use of Warm Charging is a deliberate choice that helps reduce your Scope 3 GHG emissions and further assists you to improve the sustainability credentials of your projects.