XCarb® towards carbon neutral steel
XCarb® is a trademark registered by ArcelorMittal that represents the clear path taken by the company towards the decarbonisation of the steel production process and the ambitious goal of zero emissions by 2050.
XCarb® will ultimately bring together all of ArcelorMittal’s reduced, low, and zero-carbon products and steelmaking activities, as well as wider initiatives and green innovation projects, into a single effort focussed on achieving demonstrable progress towards carbon neutral steel.
ArcelorMittal has developed two decarbonised production routes (the Smart Carbon route and the innovative DRI route) and is deploying these low-emission technologies across Europe.
Alongside the XCarb® brand, ArcelorMittal has launched three XCarb® initiatives:
- XCarb® recycled and renewably produced: This applies to steels produced in an electric arc furnace (EAF) using scrap and 100% renewable electricity.
- XCarb® green steel certificates: These allow customers to reduce their or their customers' scope 3 emissions. They can be purchased directly from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products in conjunction with a corresponding steel order.
- XCarb® innovation fund: ArcelorMittal also continues to invest in companies developing breakthrough technologies that will accelerate the steel industry’s transition to carbon neutral steelmaking.
New XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel video
To produce XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel, ArcelorMittal uses up to 100% scrap. All of the electricity that is needed to transform the scrap into steel comes from renewable sources, such as solar and wind power.
Find out how you can substantially lower the carbon footprint of the steel used in your project in this video.
Published: 1 June 2023
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Product newsArcelorMittal launches low carbon emissions steel plate for the civil engineering sector
13 September 2023ArcelorMittal, the world’s leading steel and mining company, is now producing low carbon emissions steel plate of up to 18 tonnes. ArcelorMittal is the first producer in Europe able to manufacture low carbon emissions steel plate in these dimensions. XCarb® recycled and renewably produced Heavy plates are manufactured using slabs from ArcelorMittal Industeel and are produced in an electric arc furnace using almost 100% scrap steel and 100% renewable electricity. These slabs are then transformed in ArcelorMittal’s heavy plate mill in Asturias, Spain resulting in a significant reduction in CO2 emissions - approximately 60% lower compared with steel plate made via the conventional steelmaking route (blast furnace).
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Magnelis® makes solar energy generation durable
The longevity of solar installations is directly dependent on the quality of the materials used to build them. Today, renewable energy producers expect their solar investments to have a productive lifetime of 25 years or longer. When it comes to selecting materials for the support structures for PV panels, factors such as low maintenance costs and ensuring the structural stability of the installation drive material choices. For the past ten years there has been a standout choice: Magnelis® from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products.
Magnelis®: third-party verified
This unique coating has been widely adopted and proven in the field. Today, Magnelis® also comes with a variety of third-party certifications. France’s Scientific and Technical Centre for Building (CSTB) has recently renewed its certification.
In the decade since Magnelis® was introduced, there have been significant improvements to the range. These include heavier coatings which are extending the geographic range of solar projects to more aggressive environments while offering longer lifetimes. The heavier coatings are also allowing Magnelis® to be used for foundation poles which are rammed into the soil, replacing post-galvanised material.
“Magnelis® is a pre-coated steel solution which has significant advantages over galvanised and post-galvanised material,” explains Jérôme Guth, Solar Segment Manager for ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products. “The coating process is controlled online and is fully traceable. Magnelis® can be formed, perforated, and assembled using standard tools. Magnelis® avoids post-galvanising operations and reduces raw material and energy use, labour, and storage and transportation costs. Magnelis® also exhibits a self-healing effect when exposed to the atmosphere,” bringing cut edge protection to a new level. “The corrosion protection products in Magnelis® progressively migrate to the edges of holes or scratches to maintain corrosion protection,” notes Jérôme Guth.
Magnelis® is applied to a wide range of steel substrates, including ArcelorMittal’s S550GD-HyPer® steel grade. This grade is increasingly used by structural engineers to optimise the design of solar structures and increase the loads they can bear.
XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel: a lower carbon footprint for solar structures
Solar mounting structures can now have a lower carbon footprint when using steel substrates produced via the XCarb® recycled and renewably produced route. Once the substrate is produced, it is coated with Magnelis®.
XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steels are created in an electric arc furnace (EAF) using a minimum of 75% of scrap and 100% renewable electricity, resulting in a product with 70% less carbon than steel produced using conventional blast furnace technology. This is a major saving and enhances the credentials of renewable energy.
Alusín Solar, a Spanish company which supplies structures for solar panels, recently signed an agreement to purchase ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel with Magnelis® coating. A key factor in Alusín Solar’s decision to purchase Magnelis® has been the development of a tailored made 15-year ArcelorMittal guarantee for foundation poles in soil.
Coating weights and feasibility extended
From September 2023, ArcelorMittal’s plant in Aviles, Spain will be able to produce Magnelis® in thicknesses of up to 3.5 mm on its recently revamped galvanising line 1. This will increase the availability of Magnelis® in the south of Europe and brings the total number of lines producing Magnelis® across Europe to five.
Magnelis® in heavier coating weights can be used in soils and concrete. Magnelis® ZM620 (indicative coating thickness of 50 μm per side) is already available in thicknesses up to 4.0 mm. “Magnelis® ZM800 (indicative coating thickness of 65 μm per side) is also available for testing in thicknesses up to 3.0 mm,” notes Jérôme Guth. “We are actively looking for partners who would like to implement our thicker coatings, up to ZM800 on request, in their future solar projects. You will achieve longer lifetimes for your solar installations, backed by an ArcelorMittal guarantee. Get in touch with your regular ArcelorMittal contact person to take part.”
Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
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ArcelorMittal launches low carbon emissions steel plate for the civil engineering sector
ArcelorMittal, the world’s leading steel and mining company, is now producing low carbon emissions steel plate of up to 18 tonnes. ArcelorMittal is the first producer in Europe able to manufacture low carbon emissions steel plate in these dimensions.
XCarb® recycled and renewably produced Heavy plates are manufactured using slabs from ArcelorMittal Industeel and are produced in an electric arc furnace using almost 100% scrap steel and 100% renewable electricity. These slabs are then transformed in ArcelorMittal’s heavy plate mill in Asturias, Spain resulting in a significant reduction in CO2 emissions - approximately 60% lower compared with steel plate made via the conventional steelmaking route (blast furnace).
A lower carbon footprint for infrastructure projects
Eighteen-tonne heavy plate steel is typically used in major infrastructure projects - for example, in the welded sections and box girders for road and rail bridges. Using XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel plate in civil engineering projects allows ArcelorMittal’s customers to demonstrably reduce their scope 3 emissions (supply chain emissions) and contribute to a lower carbon footprint for infrastructure projects.
Speaking about the launch of the new XCarb® solution, Denis Parein, Commercial Head Heavy Plate Europe at ArcelorMittal, said: “We are immensely proud to now be able to offer heavy plate to our customers with a CO2 footprint reduction of around 60% compared with the same product made using the conventional primary steelmaking route. Our teams have worked very hard to bring this product to market, which we know meets a growing customer need for low carbon emissions steel to reduce the carbon footprint of complex civil engineering projects. An EPD (Environmental Product Declaration), verified by a third party according to the EN 15804 European Standard, will be available for XCarb® recycled and renewably produced Heavy plates by the end of the year.”
ArcelorMittal Europe has a target to reduce CO2 emissions by 35% by 2030 and to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
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ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
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ArcelorMittal Europe
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ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
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ArcelorMittal