From 20-22 March 2024, ArcelorMittal played a significant role in WindEurope’s annual event held in Bilbao, Spain. The ArcelorMittal team of experts engaged in three panel sessions, contributing valuable insights to the wind industry.

• Stephane Tondo, Head of Climate Change - Governmental Affairs, participated in the session ‘Can the wind industry reduce its dependency on Asia?’.
• Jose Manuel Carvalho, Head of Renewable Energy Business, participated in the session ‘Electrifying transport, heat, and industry with wind’, part of the ‘Electrifying industry / steel’ theme.
• Denis Parein, Sales and Marketing director for Heavy plates Europe participated in the session ‘Floating offshore wind’, part of the ‘Mobilising Industry through Auctions and Volume’ theme.

These sessions provided great opportunities for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and forward-thinking discussions. ArcelorMittal remains committed to advancing sustainable solutions in the wind energy sector.

Supply chain collaboration: a path forward

The WindEurope ‘Offshore wind supply chain workshop’ provided a constructive and collaborative exchange forum where key actors from the European wind industry engaged in discussions about overcoming challenges across different development phases, from bid preparation to decommissioning.  

Nicolas Messias, ArcelorMittal Segment Leader for Wind, had the possibility to exchange on the challenges inherent to the European steel industry (steel being the main material in volume on wind projects) in the context of growing demand related to offshore wind, decarbonisation, and the recent evolution of the European legislative environment (NZIA, CRMA, etc).   

This workshop was a more-than-welcome, well-organised initiative by WindEurope that enabled a diverse range of stakeholders to foster a collaborative and inclusive approach, paving the way to innovative solutions for rapid scaling up of offshore wind installations.

ArcelorMittal’s saline resistant weathering steel: a breakthrough in offshore applications

The WindEurope event showcased an array of research posters, each delving into diverse topics and offering delegates a chance to engage with authors and explore their work. Among these, ArcelorMittal’s poster on saline resistant weathering steel, created by Krista Van den Bergh, Senior Project Engineer, ArcelorMittal Global R&D Gent, stood out earning recognition and an award.

Offshore environments pose unique challenges for steel structures due to the aggressive conditions induced by seawater and atmospheric chlorides. ArcelorMittal’s research and development efforts have led to the creation of a cost-effective corrosion-resistant steel substrate. Key findings include:

• Strength achievement: mechanical characterisation revealed that an S420 strength level can be comfortably achieved for plates of 20 mm thickness. Moreover, this strength level remains within reach for plates as thick as 50 mm.
• Real-world testing: the focus now shifts to corrosion testing of the industrially produced saline resistant weathering grade. Special attention is being given to atmospheric exposure testing at marine locations.

High strength offshore steel plates play a pivotal role

David Quidort, R&D engineer for Industeel, participated, presenting a poster on another critical topic: high strength offshore steel plates. These plates, with a yield strength of 690 MPa, play a vital role in the elevating system of jack-up installation vessels used for offshore wind projects.

As the number of offshore wind projects continues to surge, there is a growing need for high-end jack-up installation vessels capable of handling the demands of larger wind turbines. These vessels must withstand harsh marine conditions while ensuring safe and efficient installation.

Industeel has developed a range of 690 MPa offshore structural steel plates specifically designed for this purpose. These plates, with thicknesses ranging from 210 mm to 250 mm, provide the necessary strength and durability for the elevating systems of modern wind turbine installation vessels. As the offshore wind industry scales up, these high strength steel plates will continue to play a pivotal role in supporting clean energy generation.

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia

Images:
WindEurope

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Since its founding in 2015, Solarport has grown to become one of the largest suppliers of structural components for solar farms in the United Kingdom. During 2023, the company began to utilise Magnelis® ZM800 from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products in the manufacturing of components for ground-mounted solar arrays. The heavier coating – 65 µm on each side of an S450GD-HyPer® substrate – enables Solarport to offer expected lifetimes of up to 40 years to solar farm operators. This is a crucial differentiator as investors become more aware of corrosion resistance. Although Magnelis® ZM800 only became commercially available in 2023, Solarport has already deployed it in several solar farms across the UK.

Magnelis® ZM800

The Solarport team discovered Magnelis® ZM800 on a visit to ArcelorMittal’s mill in Bremen, Germany with representatives from their local steel service centre, Davro Steel. “We were so impressed; we placed our first order for ZM800 before we even left the mill,” notes Liam Tattershall, Managing Director of Solarport. “That material went straight into a new solar farm.”

The company had already used Magnelis® in its components following a recommendation from Davro Steel. “We did several training sessions with the Solarport team to make them aware of the properties of this continuously hot dip coated steel,” says Greg Anthony, Managing Director of Davro Steel. “We also developed a calculator which allows Solarport to use geotechnical data from each site to adjust material selection.”

Sophisticated corrosion protection

“Magnelis® is a much more sophisticated corrosion protection solution than batch hot dip galvanisation (which offers max. 55 µm per side on 3.0 mm steel according to ISO 1461),” explains Liam Tattershall. “While the Magnelis® grades with lighter coating weights can meet the 25- and 35-year lifetimes required by customers, we needed something that could last even longer. With its 65 µm coating on each side, Magnelis® ZM800 allows us to offer lifetimes of up to 40 years. ArcelorMittal’s extensive testing programme gives us, and our customers, assurance that the material is durable.”

Magnelis® makes the manufacturing process simple as Liam Tattershall explains: “The folding, pressing, and rolling operations we perform in our facilities are very smooth. Magnelis® forms better than galvanised material and there is no pick-up of the coating on the rolls. With standard galvanised material, production was slower as there was a lot of material on the rolls which needed to be cleaned.”

Another key advantage over galvanisation is that Solarport does not need to send finished parts offsite for corrosion protection. “We save on transport costs and emissions,” says Liam Tattershall. “Magnelis® also heals on cut edges, ensuring that any scratches that do occur during transport or storage remain corrosion free.”

ZM800 becomes default standard

Following discussions with Davro Steel and ArcelorMittal, Solarport has plans to utilise Magnelis® ZM800 for most of its components. “We know that Magnelis® ZM800 will meet the requirements of many more sites and soils, so it makes sense to standardise our offer on this coating,” says Liam Tattershall. “That will provide us, and our customers, with a lot of confidence.”

With an ambitious goal to achieve 70 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar capacity by 2030, the government of the United Kingdom has dramatically kick-started the local photovoltaic (PV) industry. “The UK solar market has 15.8 GW of capacity installed to date,” notes Greg Anthony. “With its ability to produce around two gigawatts of capacity each year, Solarport is well positioned to meet the growing demand for solar in the UK. Using Magnelis® ZM800 will ensure a long life for these new installations.”

Providing the best solution for customers

Solarport is also looking at product optimisation to provide the best solution for customers. A key example is the company’s BESS battery mounting system. “Hybrid installations which include both solar power generation and batteries are becoming more common,” notes Liam Tattershall. “The battery helps electricity authorities to balance the grid. We’re redesigning our BESS system using value engineering. Our goal is to replace the existing material with rolled sections so Magnelis® can also be deployed in this application. This will reduce maintenance over the life of a solar installation.”

Having the support of ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products is important for Solarport and its customers explains Liam Tattershall: “ArcelorMittal already has Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) available for Magnelis®. As the market becomes more aware of corrosion resistance and environmental considerations, this adds to the growing level of confidence in Magnelis®. We also get great support from ArcelorMittal when it comes to solving any technical problems our customers encounter. For Solarport, high-quality products and the satisfaction of our customers are the keys to our success.”

About Solarport

Solarport is a leading designer and manufacturer of solar mounting systems. Since being founded in 2015, Solarport has deployed utility scale and modular ground mounting systems across the UK and Europe. With its own manufacturing facilities in the UK, Solarport can produce up to two gigawatts of capacity annually.

More info: www.solarportsystems.com

About Davro Steel

Davro Steel is a major supplier of high-quality steel strip and sheet products to the UK and Europe. From its base in Birmingham in the United Kingdom, Davro Steel supplies all major steel markets including construction, automotive, yellow and white goods, and the renewable energy sector.

More info: www.davrosteel.co.uk

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia

Images:
© Solarport

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Gonvarri Industries’ photovoltaic solar structures division, Iberdrola, and ArcelorMittal are underlining their commitment to the energy transition with the signing of a new supply agreement for solar trackers for an Iberdrola project in Portugal. ArcelorMittal will provide 211.8 tonnes of its XCarb® recycled and renewably produced Magnelis® - the first photovoltaic project in Iberia to use this material.

The project

Gonvarri Solar Steel is a leader in the manufacture and supply of solar trackers and fixed structures with a track record of projects totalling more than 19 GW. It has signed a contract with Iberdrola for the supply of 41 MWp of its TracSmarT+1V solar trackers for this photovoltaic project in Portugal.

The project, located in the former Portuguese freguesia of Carregado, Lisbon, will have a total of 915 solar trackers (256 single-row and 659 dual-row trackers) and will be the first photovoltaic project in the Iberian Peninsula to use reduced CO2 emissions steel as the main component of the solar structures.

An Iberian PV premiere for XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel with Magnelis® coating

The project will use 211.79 tonnes of XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel with Magnelis® coating. This steel is produced via the EAF route using a high level of scrap and 100% renewable electricity. XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel has an embedded CO2 footprint which is 70% lower than that of steel produced through the conventional steelmaking process.

It is the first project in Iberia that will use this low emissions steel, and it is aligned with the decarbonisation commitments of Gonvarri Industries, Iberdrola, and ArcelorMittal.

Gonvarri Solar Steel, Iberdrola, and ArcelorMittal are proud to be able to combine their commitment, expertise, resources, and experience as leaders in their respective sectors in this photovoltaic solar project in Portugal, which will serve as a benchmark for the development of new innovative, high-performance initiatives as a way to accelerate the transition towards a zero-emissions world.

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia

Image:
mvtstockshot/Shutterstock

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ArcelorMittal has won first place in the Sustainability category at the prestigious pv magazine’s 2023 Awards, showcasing our commitment to more environmentally sustainable practices.

An award-winning initiative

Our award-winning initiative, 'Reducing carbon footprint with XCarb® and Magnelis® coating in PV Mounting,' shows our leadership in pioneering more environmentally sustainable solutions within the solar industry. At the core of this achievement is XCarb®, an all-encompassing initiative that aligns our suite of reduced, low, and zero-carbon emissions products, steelmaking activities, and cutting-edge low carbon-emissions projects. XCarb® is not merely a concept but a dedicated effort towards achieving carbon-neutral steelmaking.

XCarb® recycled and renewably produced together with Magnelis® play a pivotal role, reducing our carbon footprint by an impressive -70%, showcasing our leadership in sustainable solutions.

Redefining corrosion protection

Magnelis® is a remarkable metallic coating that redefines corrosion protection. It provides unparalleled surface and cut-edge protection, even in hostile environments. Magnelis® significantly enhances the lifetime and durability of PV structures - an increasingly critical feature in their longevity and performance.

A 70% reduction of the carbon footprint

In solar applications, using Magnelis® XCarb® recycled and renewably produced reduces the global warming potential from 2570kg CO2eq/t to 797kg CO2eq/t. This is a substantial difference of 1773kg CO2eq/t, translating to a reduction of 70% of the carbon footprint.

Our achievement in the face of 224 entries from 39 countries underscores the ArcelorMittal team's dedication. We extend special thanks to the 19 independent expert jurors for recognising our unwavering commitment to sustainability.

This recognition reaffirms ArcelorMittal's commitment to sustainable innovation and its goals of reducing CO2 emissions by 35% in Europe by 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.

For more information about solutions for strong foundation design and durability, and options to reduce environmental impact, we invite you to watch the webinars that pv magazine organised with ArcelorMittal: Mounted PV: Steel foundations explored and Reducing the environmental impact of PV mounting structures.

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia

Images:
© ArcelorMittal Europe

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In partnership with pv magazine, ArcelorMittal presented a webinar on solutions for strong foundation design and durability, including options for reducing environmental impact as part of its XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel programme. Watch the replay here!

Changing environments require new products

When it comes to solar PV systems, mounting systems are a classic focus for developers, EPCs, module suppliers, asset owners, and all key stakeholders. However, the very backbone of these setups is the solid foundation, and in this webinar, we dig into this often underestimated, yet critical, aspect of solar power.

Climate change is seeing rising weather variance across many parts of the world, with more aggressive storms, winds, and extreme conditions becoming more frequent. Solid foundations for solar plants not only resist high winds and provide a sturdy and stable base for the solar module mounting systems and associated BOM, but also distribute weight to avoid sinking into the ground. They are also relatively easy to install, and custom solutions are available.

New products are able to offer more benefits for owners without changing installation operations or techniques. The use of steel in foundations remains one of the most viable options offering robustness, infinite recyclability potential, and long-term durability, especially when combined with protective coatings.

Strong foundations with reduced environmental impact: ArcelorMittal's XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel

Backing up these assertions, ArcelorMittal, a leading supplier of steel globally including for the solar industry, joined pv magazine to talk about its solutions for strong foundation design and durability, including options for reducing environmental impact as part of its XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel programme.

Jérôme Guth, Head of segments & products business development, Corinne Dieu, product leader for metallic coated steels, and Jean-Louis Remlinger, solar market senior analyst, from ArcelorMittal provide updates on its efforts to continue to strengthen the corrosion resistance of its Magnelis® coated steel, including various coating options to increase the lifetime of solar investments.

Webinar topics include:

•     The benefits of Magnelis® coated steel for foundations, poles, and posts in a solar system
•     Trial results of high strength steels for ramming poles and the FEM model
•     The benefits of high strength steel in terms of weight, cost, and CO2 footprint reduction
•     Reducing steel’s CO2 footprint via XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel
•     Q&A

Text:
pv magazine
Constructalia

Images:
pv magazine

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