The installation of more than 27 000 solar panels on the roof of ArcelorMittal in Ghent has been completed, resulting in the largest solar roof in Belgium. Installed by Eneco, this is their largest project to date making ArcelorMittal Belgium even more sustainable. The power generated will be used internally by ArcelorMittal in Ghent. The panels are fixed on a framework made of steel coated with Magnelis®. The Magnelis® steel, produced at our production site in Liège among others, is a strong illustration of sustainability.

The largest solar roof in Belgium

Eneco - the largest solar energy producer in Belgium - installed this 7.5 million Euro solar roof. The park consists of 27 104 solar panels for which 157.2 t of steel was used. The total weight of the installation amounts to 1.5 million kilos. This means that ArcelorMittal now owns the fourth largest solar park in Belgium and the largest solar roof in Belgium.

Supporting the move to clean energy

ArcelorMittal supports the move to clean energy generation by offering high-performance steels, advanced metallic coatings, and structural solutions for PV and solar thermal installations. We also offer tailormade services such as co-engineering and full project handling.

Reinforcing the sustainability strategy

The new solar panels at ArcelorMittal in Ghent will produce 10 000 MWh annually, equal to the energy consumption of 2900 households. The solar panels, together with the site’s current 10 wind turbines and the two additionally planned wind turbines, will soon provide approximately 50 MW of renewable power to the Ghent site. The sustainable energy that is generated is used entirely internally to feed the production of ArcelorMittal in Ghent.

Today, ArcelorMittal Belgium is a world-leader in energy efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions. With this investment, the company reinforces the implementation of its sustainability strategy. ArcelorMittal Belgium follows the climate agreement of Paris. The site’s emissions are already 25% lower than in 1990, which is 20% better than what the Paris climate agreement demands. By 2027, ArcelorMittal Belgium aims to produce 43% fewer emissions, with the ambition of being carbon neutral by 2050.

Manfred Van Vlierberghe, CEO of ArcelorMittal Belgium, states that: “The renewable energy generated by these 27 104 solar panels supports us in achieving our ambition to be climate-neutral by 2050. We’re fully committed to this ambition and excited to launch Belgium’s largest solar roof. Alongside our soon to be installed additional wind-turbines, we’re again taking steps in the right direction. In addition, the new solar panels are also a good example of the importance of steel in our daily lives.”

Fast growing energy vision within Ghent industry

The initiative of ArcelorMittal Belgium and Eneco is in line with the Flemish Government’s Energy Vision for 2021 – 2030. This Energy Vision states that energy consumption must be significantly reduced and that the industry must be 10% more energy efficient by 2030.

“Large renewable energy projects such as those at ArcelorMittal Belgium are necessary in order to put in place a real energy transition. It makes a big difference to a company’s energy bill, but also to the achievement of the renewable energy targets in Flanders. Many companies in the Ghent port area realise that this change of our mindsets is crucial, and we are therefore pleased to see that the concrete implementation of the Energy Vision is being taken seriously.” ~Lydia Peeters, Flemish Deputy Prime Minister and Flemish Minister of Finance, Budget, Energy, & Culture

“I am pleased that ArcelorMittal continues to focus on the reduction of CO2 reduction and energy efficiency. The investment in this new solar park is one of their projects to achieve the ultimate goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. In this way, our industry is working towards a sustainable and climate-neutral society.” ~Koen van den Heuvel, Flemish Minister of the Environment, Nature, and Agriculture

“The city of Ghent and the North Sea Port are committed to renewable energy, CO2 reduction, and reuse. By installing solar panels and solar parks in the cross-border port area, like at ArcelorMittal in Ghent, the port companies are generating renewable energy, which is injected into the electricity grid accounting for the equivalent of more than 31 000 households. In this way, our port is increasingly becoming a sustainable energy port, and together with all port companies, we are building a climate-neutral city by 2050.” ~Mathias De Clercq, mayor of the city of Ghent

ArcelorMittal Belgium continues to work on similar projects at its sites in Liège, Genk, and Geel.

About Eneco

Eneco Belgium is a sustainable energy company that focuses on the production and supply of gas and electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind. Eneco is a leading player in the supply and production of renewable energy and one of the largest players in the wind sector with more than 1000 MW of renewable production capacity in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Eneco has been active on the Belgian consumer market since 2011 and has the ambition to supply 100% renewable energy generated on Belgian soil through 96 wind turbines and, currently, 295 000 solar panels. The company also focusses on energy efficiency through insulation projects, solar panels, energy storage, electric charging stations, and other innovative products and services.

More info here: Eneco

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe Communications, ArcelorMittal Corporate Communications, Constructalia

Photos: ArcelorMittal Europe

Videos: ArcelorMittal Europe Communications, ArcelorMittal, Eneco

It is common to see solar energy panels on land and on roofs, but one German company is now exploring the untapped potential of lakes to generate energy. Developed by Zimmermann, the Zim Float photovoltaic (PV) system can be deployed on almost any body of freshwater, and it benefits from the cooling effect of the lake to maximise power generation while limiting evaporation. To ensure the long-term viability of the installation, the system relies on a structure composed mainly of Magnelis® by ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products.

Floating solar structures offer power generation companies a flexible solution which can be deployed quickly and in areas where there is high demand on land use. The structures shield the water from the sun, limiting evaporation. At the same time, the lake keeps the PV modules cool thanks to the design of the system. This helps to maximise the efficiency of the solar panels.

Contending with water and nature

Development of the Zim Float-System began in 2017 with the first pilot installation a year later. Zimmermann quickly decided to use Magnelis® from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products as Franz Krug, project manager, explains: “We involved ArcelorMittal R&D at the start as we had a concern about steel and water being in such close proximity to each other. But it’s not just water. Bird droppings are another problem we need to contend with. We went to ArcelorMittal Bremen to discuss our ideas with the experts and came away convinced that Magnelis® was the solution.”

Around 80 percent of the structure is Magnelis®. It is used in the support structures for the solar panels and the walkways used by maintenance personnel. The clever design of Zim Float ensures that three-quarters of the Magnelis® is covered by panels which protect it from rain.

The system is designed to cope with the high wind loads and freezing conditions found in the Netherlands, where the first Zim Float-System was installed. “If the lake only freezes a few centimetres deep there is no problem as the structure is constantly moving,” notes Mr Krug. “That keeps the area around the floats clear of ice. The system is also designed to handle thicker ice if the lake freezes completely."

Low zinc runoff ideal for waterways

Before the first Zim Float could be deployed in the Netherlands, Zimmermann required regulatory approval from the Dutch environmental authorities. A key concern for the environmental agency was the level of zinc runoff from the corrosion protection system. “Zinc runoff from Magnelis® is four times lower than galvanised steel. This satisfied their concerns,” says Mr Krug. “The other major benefit is that Magnelis® is completely recyclable at the end of the system’s life.”

Zim Float is designed as a large-scale energy generator. A standard block covers 1.45 hectares and weighs around 190 tonnes including the inverter and transformer, but without the PV cells. Each block can generate up to 2.5 megawatts of energy, depending on the type of PV modules utilised.

Fast installation on water

A Zimmermann customer has just finished installing an 8 MW system on a lake in the Netherlands. The entire process was completed in just two and a half months. In August 2019, the customer started installing a 14 MW system which is expected to be fully operational by the end of November. “By the end of 2020, we expect to have delivered Zim Float systems with around 150 to 200 MW of capacity,” says Mr Krug.

To meet this goal, Zimmermann requires a reliable and flexible steel supplier, notes Mr Krug: “There is an excellent relationship between ArcelorMittal and Zimmermann. Quality is one of the most important considerations for us, but we also appreciate ArcelorMittal’s flexibility.”

About Zimmermann

Zimmermann is a dynamic, performance-oriented family business with a 50-year tradition. The company is headquartered in Germany, but also has operations in Canada, Turkey, Switzerland, and the USA. Since its foundation, Zimmermann has developed into one of the leading manufacturers of agricultural housing. In 2009, Zimmermann started to produce mounting structures for the PV industry and is renowned for their high-quality products. To date, Zimmermann have supplied mounting structures with a total capacity of over 3.3 gigawatt-peak (GWp).

More info: pv-stahlbau.de

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe - Flat Products

Photos: © Zimmermann

Bucon is a major producer of corrugated steel tanks which are widely used in the horticultural and agricultural industries. The company’s round and square tanks are made with Magnelis® from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products to ensure their long life and durability. Now Bucon is exploring a new application for their tanks as low-cost housing for Africa. As well as being easy to construct, the housing units can be quickly adapted as family needs change and are fully recyclable at the end of their long life.

A key advantage

Bucon was founded in 2015 as a producer of corrugated tanks for the storage of water and other liquid products used in the horticultural industry. The initial design, known as BUCOtank®, features a traditional round design which is made from Magnelis® provided by ArcelorMittal Liège, Belgium.

“A key advantage of Magnelis® is that it can withstand the aggressive environments found in horticulture and agriculture,” notes Erik Passchier, CEO of Bucon. “For example, manure tanks are subject to high levels of ammonia.”

Magnelis®: zinc runoff to soil minimised

Another major benefit of using Magnelis® is the reduced level of zinc runoff to soil compared to hot-dip galvanised solutions. “Zinc runoff is a major concern in agriculture and horticulture, but Magnelis® stays on the steel,” says Passchier. “This was one of the main reasons why we chose Magnelis® on a strong steel (S350GD) substrate.”

Magnelis® is an affordable solution for Bucon’s horticultural customers notes Passchier: “In industrial applications, our tanks represent just a small percentage of the overall project budget. But in horticulture and agriculture they account for a much bigger percentage – margins are much lower. Our customers need affordable and long-lasting solutions. Something we can provide with Magnelis®.”

Tanks with Granite® HDX and BUCOsquare® tanks

Bucon also produces coloured tanks in either light grey or dark green. In these cases, the steel used is Granite® HDX from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products. “We offer a light grey which matches the windows of greenhouses and is usually used inside,” says Passchier. “The dark green finish is mainly used in outdoor applications where it blends into the environment.”

More recently, Bucon has introduced a new range of tanks known as BUCOsquare®. The tanks feature rounded, angular corners which create a rectangular or square tank. The square tanks are ideal for greenhouse applications where they can fit in with the shape of the building.

“Square tanks are only possible due to Bucon’s high-quality equipment,” explains Passchier. “Normally corrugated steel buckles when bent at the angle required, but our machines can bend the corrugated sheets tightly enough to create a ‘square’ corner.”

All of Bucon’s tanks are assembled using the company’s own patented bolt system. The system uses bolts and washers which have the same shape as the corrugated steel sheets they will join. This ensures much tighter contact between the sheets. As well as helping to prevent moisture penetration, the connection has a much higher tensile strength than can be achieved with normal nuts and bolts notes Passchier: “The connection can handle twice the tensile strength of normal bolts. That allows us to build larger or taller tanks safely.”

FLEXbuild turns tanks into homes

Bucon has adapted its square tank designs to create affordable housing units which can be modified or expanded to meet the changing needs of families. Known as FLEXbuild, the modular building system makes it possible to rapidly deploy a range of relatively inexpensive and sustainable architectural solutions almost anywhere in the world.

“The basic elements of the houses are corrugated Magnelis® panels which are engineered to precision at our facility in the Netherlands,” says Passchier. “As we are located close to the port of Rotterdam, the buildings can be shipped almost anywhere. And when they arrive on-site, the structure can be assembled easily by people with very little construction experience.”

While the basis of the houses are corrugated tanks, they can easily be fitted with insulation or other materials to create a more aesthetic finish. They can also be painted with Bucon’s Adgreen coating which reflects ultraviolet light back into the atmosphere. This reduces the internal temperature of the building by up to 20°C.

Bucon relies on ArcelorMittal’s expertise whenever they have questions explains Passchier: “We’re always innovating, and ArcelorMittal’s technical people have a lot of knowledge about steel. Their answers are based on knowledge and numbers – they don’t make promises they can’t keep. And they strongly believe in long-term relationships and working together to find the best solution – both technically and commercially. What’s technically possible is not always commercial, but ArcelorMittal’s people understand this.”

About Bucon

Bucon Industries was founded in 2015 and began producing its first corrugated steel panels by the end of that year. To date, Bucon has produced tanks which are used to collect and store water, manure, and other liquids used in horticultural and agricultural applications. Bucon has a small staff of enthusiastic and highly committed people located in the heart of the Netherlands’ horticultural industry to the north of Rotterdam. Bucon’s tanks are sold and installed by a global network of authorised dealers and distributors.

More info: www.bucon-industries.nl

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe - Flat Products, Constructalia
Image copyrights: Bucon Industries