The ability to produce green energy on a massive scale is a key challenge for a sustainable future and has become a high priority in many countries. According to the IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2020, renewable sources of energy are expected to provide almost 40% of the global electricity supply by 2030, and wind will be one of the main contributors.

To meet the demand for clean energy, the quantity of wind turbines that must be produced and installed each year will continue to increase at a very high rate. Achieving this production level requires a strong supply chain and high-quality, innovative products. ArcelorMittal has recently published a renewed edition of its 'Steel solutions for the global wind energy industry' brochure, encompassing the products and services of the group’s entities, all useful contact details – and a focus on its XCarb® carbon reduced steel offer.

Steel is used to create more than 80% of the components required to build a wind turbine. Selecting a reliable partner is essential. ArcelorMittal’s steels have been successfully used in the manufacturing of more than 10 000 onshore and offshore wind turbine towers since 2005.

In this brochure, ArcelorMittal presents its extensive portfolio of steels which are used in the major components of a wind farm: foundations, towers, nacelles, generators, gearboxes, yaws, pitches, and mooring ropes.

ArcelorMittal’s worldwide industrial operations, strategically located with easy access to sea routes, are backed by an international sales and distribution network in 60 countries, which is an asset for all parts of the wind energy supply chain.

This publication also introduces XCarb®, ArcelorMittal’s brand designed to bring together all of ArcelorMittal’s reduced, low, and zero-carbon products and steelmaking activities. By reducing the emissions in its steel production processes, ArcelorMittal support its clients on their way towards reducing the carbon footprint of their wind turbines with its XCarb® green steel certificates and XCarb® recycled and renewable produced steel offer.

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe - Flat Products
Constructalia

Images:
Pedro Sala and Eugene Suslo / shutterstock.com

Related link(s)

Steel solutions provider to the global wind energy industry

Plants at Avilés and Gijón now supply higher quality heavy steel plate with a reduced CO2 footprint, allowing customers to buy XCarb® green steel certificates to reduce their Scope 3 emissions.

Responding to the needs of modern offshore wind towers

Following an upgrade in 2020, the No.2 continuous slab caster at Avilés has been running at full capacity, supplying plates for several major offshore wind projects in the UK, France, and the Netherlands. Since September 2021, the caster has produced slabs of up to 2200 mm width, 365 mm thickness, and weighing up to nearly 19 tonnes, broadening ArcelorMittal’s range of plates as a response to the needs of offshore wind tower mast manufacturers.

The 2020 upgrade included the implementation of state-of-the-art technologies such as Dynamic Soft Reduction (DSR) along with new systems to deliver better internal and external steel quality, including less segregation, better homogeneity, and cleaner surface finish.

A commitment to CO2 reduction

As part of its commitment to reduce its CO2 emissions by 35% in 2030 and achieve net-zero in 2050, ArcelorMittal Europe began coke-oven gas injection for Blast Furnace B in Gijón in early 2021. This initiative is reducing CO2 emissions by 125 000 tonnes a year - equivalent to the emissions generated by the annual consumption of 84 000 Spanish households.

Altogether, these investments deliver on European customers’ requirements for greener, high-quality, and heavier plates for civil engineering, wind towers, and offshore structures.

XCarb® green steel certificates

In addition, ArcelorMittal’s heavy plates qualify for XCarb® green steel certificates, which allow customers to report an equivalent reduction in their Scope 3 emissions in accordance with the GHG Protocol for Corporate Accounting & Reporting.

Denis Parein, Commercial Head for Heavy plates at ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products, commented: “These investments mean that we can supply heavy plates in the sizes and grades required for the most demanding projects, and with a reduced CO2 footprint”.

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia

Images:
© Eugene Suslo / shutterstock.com
© ArcelorMittal

Related link(s)

The European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS) has released a new European Design Guide for the Use of Weathering Steel in Bridge Construction.

Fundamental updates

A vital element of Europe’s transport infrastructure, bridges also play a major role in connecting countries, representing cultures and functioning as landmarks. Generally in bridge construction, weathering steel provides the most cost-effective and environmental benefits with similar mechanical properties to structural steel.

This design guide updates the ECCS design guide from 2001 – The Use of Weathering Steel in Bridges. The last 20 years have seen the Eurocodes become recognised throughout Europe in addition to many other weathering steel construction standards coming into force. In addition, thanks to practical application and research projects, extensive new knowledge of weathering steel has been garnered. As such, the new European Design Guide for the Use of Weathering Steel in Bridge Construction offers a plethora of vital information. The design guide can be downloaded for free in an electronic version here.

Text:
Constructalia

Images:
ArcelorMittal Europe
Xavier Font Solà
ECCS

Related link(s)