The images of the devastating floods in Belgium and Germany in 2021 are still fresh in our minds. With hundreds of deaths, these floods were one of the worst natural disasters in Europe, in terms of the number of victims, for many years. In Germany, the Ahr Valley was the hardest hit. The flood destroyed much of the infrastructure, including the rail bridge at Bad Münstereifel, which was completely destroyed by the flood and has disrupted rail traffic ever since. Two years on, the reconstruction is almost complete.

Lower carbon footprint with XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel

For the reconstruction of the bridge on the Erfttal railway, ArcelorMittal Distribution Solutions Germany supplied 50 tonnes of XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel.

Conscious of the need to reduce CO2 emissions to slow climate change, the client in charge of rebuilding the bridge decided to use ArcelorMittal's low carbon emissions steel for the rebuild. XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel is made using up to 100% scrap using only renewable electricity, leaving a significantly lower CO2 footprint (around 40 tonnes of CO2 were saved).

A total of eight HEA 900 sections in XCarb® recycled and renewably produced, with a total weight of 50 tonnes, were delivered for the bridge reconstruction. The profiles were heightened and then drilled with 810 holes. The finishing of the beams took place in the Steligence® fabrication centre in Luxembourg.

From December 2023, the Erfttal railway should be running again, thanks to ArcelorMittal steel.

Want to know more about XCarb® and ArcelorMittal's low carbon emissions steel?

Low carbon emissions steel products play a crucial role in a circular economy as the majority of emissions from construction projects come from the carbon footprint of the materials themselves. Through contracts like this one in the Ahr Valley, ArcelorMittal can realise its potential in collaboration with stakeholders and further develop towards carbon neutral steel.

The XCarb® initiative, launched by ArcelorMittal in March 2021, brings together all of ArcelorMittal's reduced-, low-, and zero-carbon products and steelmaking activities.

Scrap and renewable energy: the levers of low CO2 steel

To produce XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel, ArcelorMittal uses up to 100% scrap and renewable electricity coming from renewable sources, such as solar and wind power.

ArcelorMittal estimates that XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel has a carbon footprint as low as 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of steel product when the metallics are 100% scrap, which is certified by a published Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia

Images:
ArcelorMittal

Related link(s)

Neubau Erftal-Bahnbrücke in Bad Münstereifel

Norwegian steel distributor Stene Stål Produkter AS aims to be the first European distributor to only stock open steel sections that have been made with low emissions. Open sections include large beams and piles, which are mainly used in construction, down to smaller products including rails, rods, and bars.

The low global warming potential of ArcelorMittal steel benefits our customers

Stene Stål’s extensive range will have a global warming potential (GWP) below 400kg CO2 a tonne, starting with IPE, HEA, and HEB sections. Driven by their own strategy to provide a faster and more effective response to climate change, and motivated by growing political concerns in Norway, Stene Stål’s ambition is to convert their entire stock of sections within 2022, taking full advantage of ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced beams from the company’s Luxemburgish mills in Belval and Differdange that meet these stringent CO2 requirements.

With GWP values of 333kg CO2 per tonne of steel products [1] (cradle to gate or A1-A3), the XCarb® recycled and renewably produced sections clearly match the ambition of Stene Stål. This figure, achieved through ArcelorMittal's efforts to use up to 100% scrap and electricity from solar and wind power sources, is being passed on to our customer in turn giving them a competitive advantage.

Looking forward to future cooperation

Tove Aspeng, Purchasing manager of Stene Stål, is looking forward to future cooperation: “XCarb® recycled and renewably produced – and low emissions steel – is an excellent measure towards countering climate change, and one that is beneficial for ourselves, our customers, as well as the climate."

About Stene Stål Produkter AS

Stene Stål is predominantly dedicated to steel constructors, which is reflected in their wide product range and length assortment. They are certified in accordance to the EN 1090 norm that regulates the fabrication and assembly of steel structures for the construction market. In addition, they have facilities for automatic priming up to 23m lengths. Linked with XCarb™ values, they are now able to offer specific project EPDs including A4, for each beam delivered to site.

Want to know more about XCarb™?

The XCarb™ initiative, launched by ArcelorMittal in March 2021, brings together all of ArcelorMittal’s reduced-, low-, and zero-carbon products and steelmaking activities.

To produce XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel, ArcelorMittal uses up to 100% scrap and renewable electricity coming from renewable sources such as solar and wind power. ArcelorMittal estimates that XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel has a carbon footprint as low as 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of steel product when the metallics are 100% scrap, which is certified by a published Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).

The ArcelorMittal XCarb™ initiatives also include XCarb® green steel certificates which are specifically designed for ArcelorMittal’s steel products made from iron ore in a blast furnace. They are based on real CO2 savings as well as wider initiatives which reduce ArcelorMittal’s carbon footprint. ArcelorMittal can add up these important CO2 savings and then pass them onto our customers in the form of a certificate, which has been verified by an independent auditor.

[1] Environmental Product Declaration for XCarb® recycled and renewably produced structural steel sections and merchant bars in ArcelorMittal Europe certifies a global warming potential of 333kg of CO2 per tonne of steel product when the metallics are 100% scrap.

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia

Images:
© Stene Stål

Related link(s)