ArcelorMittal recently announced it has become an anchor partner in Breakthrough Energy’s Catalyst programme, committing to an equity investment of $100 million over the next five years through the XCarb® innovation fund.

Breakthrough Energy: Catalyst

Founded by Bill Gates, Breakthrough Energy is committed to scaling the technologies the world needs to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Breakthrough Energy’s efforts include investment vehicles, philanthropic programmes, policy advocacy, and other initiatives, including Catalyst.

Catalyst, launched earlier this year, is a new model for how companies, governments, and private philanthropy can finance, produce, and ensure widespread adoption of next-generation clean technologies. The programme will initially focus on four decarbonisation technologies: direct air capture (DAC), green hydrogen, long-duration energy storage (LDS), and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

An investment through the XCarb® innovation fund

ArcelorMittal’s investment will be made through its XCarb® innovation fund which was launched earlier this year. The company anticipates investing up to $100 million annually through the fund in companies developing technologies with the potential to support and accelerate the transition to zero carbon emissions steelmaking. To date, ArcelorMittal has invested $10 million in Heliogen, a renewable energy company which focusses on unlocking the power of sunlight to replace fossil fuels, and $25 million in Form Energy, which is working on the development of its breakthrough energy storage technology.

An industrial revolution to avoid climate disaster

Commenting, Aditya Mittal, CEO of ArcelorMittal, said:

“The Catalyst programme is innovative and necessary. It brings together public and private finance with the objective of fast-tracking the deployment of projects which can deliver significant carbon reduction. For ArcelorMittal and the steel industry, this kind of initiative is critically important. The steel industry knows how to decarbonise – essentially what is missing is the availability of clean energy at competitive prices that provides the foundation for us to really accelerate. That’s why, after discussing the purpose of Catalyst with Bill, we were very happy to join as an anchor partner. Achieving net zero by 2050 needs a coordinated global drive the likes of which the world has never seen before.”

Bill Gates, Founder of Breakthrough Energy, added:

“Avoiding a climate disaster will require a new industrial revolution. We need to make the technologies and products that don’t cause emissions as cheap as those that do, so the whole world can afford them and reach our climate goals. Through Catalyst, leaders from across the private and public sectors are coming together to focus on supporting technologies that are vital to the world reaching net-zero emissions but are currently too expensive to be adopted at scale. By coordinating investments and directing them toward these critical technologies, we can reduce their Green Premiums and help them get to market faster, so we can all reach our climate goals.”

Text:
ArcelorMittal
Constructalia

Image:
ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal has published its second group climate action report, following the first group report published in May 2019 and the European climate action report published in May 2020.

Climate Action Report 2 (2021)

In the new report, ArcelorMittal has for the first time announced a 2030 global carbon emissions intensity reduction target of 25%. It has also increased its European 2030 carbon emissions intensity reduction target to 35% from 30% previously announced. All targets are on a scope 1 and 2 basis. The company had previously announced a net zero by 2050 ambition in September 2020.

2030 target breakdown

The new climate action report provides a roadmap that illustrates ArcelorMittal’s current thinking on the journey to net zero steelmaking. Five key levers are identified as the stepping-stones to achieve net zero by 2050. These are:

1. Steelmaking transformation: In the course of the coming decades, the steel industry will undergo a transformation of the assets used to make steel on a scale not seen for over 100 years. This includes in a first phase the transition from coal (in the blast furnace) to natural gas (in a Direct Reduced Iron – DRI – plant) as a precursor to green hydrogen DRI.
2. Energy transformation: The energy used to make steel in future years will undergo a further and more radical transition, from high-emitting fossil fuel-based energy to low and zero-carbon emissions forms of energy. This includes green hydrogen, circular forms of carbon, and CCUS technologies.
3. Increased use of scrap: As well as using scrap in the EAF, ArcelorMittal will increase the use of scrap in blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) steelmaking.
4. Sourcing clean electricity: ArcelorMittal will focus on increasing the amount of low and zero-carbon emissions electricity it consumes. The company plans to do this by purchasing renewable energy certificates and by direct power purchase agreements (PPA) with suppliers from renewable projects.
5. Offsetting residual emissions: There are likely to remain residual emissions for which either there is no feasible technological solution or the solution involves excessively high economic or social costs. For these emissions, ArcelorMittal will buy high-quality offsets or launch projects to generate high-quality carbon credits.

Click here to read the full press release.

Click here to download the report.

Text:
ArcelorMittal
Constructalia

Images:
ArcelorMittal

Report:
ArcelorMittal

Video:
ArcelorMittal

Related link(s)

ArcelorMittal Climate Action Report 2 July 2021

This edition of ARCHITECT@WORK Belgium will take place in Kortrijk at the Kortrijk Xpo on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 October from 10.00 to 20.00.

ArcelorMittal Europe will be at stand 226 presenting its latest innovations such as Granite® HDXtreme and new cladding solutions.

Visit ArcelorMittal and discover:

• The new Granite® HDXtreme in 4 of its most appealing finishes: G508S Sparkling, G905S Sparkling, G906S Sparkling, and 9006 Satin. Created for very severe environments including the sea side, this new pre-painted flat steel for roofing and facades is the best in class for UV (RUV5) and corrosion (RC5+) protection. It is available in more than 50 colours in three different finishes: satin, matt, and sparkling.
  
  
• Innovative cladding solutions, such as the Creneo block, Isis, and other custom profiles.

Invitation only

An invitation code is required to register online for free. To obtain your free code, please contact levi.kleinjan@arcelormittal.com.

Event details

Details of the event can be found here: ARCHITECT@WORK Kortrijk

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia

Images:
Jeroen Op de Beeck and Philippe Vandenameele
ArcelorMittal
ARCHITECT@WORK

Across Europe, standing seam roofs are a key feature in the landscape of many cities and towns. Made from flexible metals, they are an ideal solution for the odd-shaped roofs of apartment blocks and public buildings where every millimetre of space under the roof is utilised. The standing seam provides a high level of resistance to wind and excellent watertightness, making it a popular roofing solution today. Organic coated steels such as the Granite® HFX Cool range from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products offer the necessary pliability, combined with a hard-wearing finish that is guaranteed for up to 20 years. Bevego, a leading provider of roofing solutions and equipment for the Swedish market, recently started utilising the latest product in the range – Granite® HFX Cool Matt.

Standing seam roofing

Traditional standing seams are formed from strips of metal which are laid vertically down the roof. The standing seam is formed by bending up the edge of a strip and folding it over, together with the edge of the neighbouring strip. The result is a double standing seam which is totally weatherproof.

Roofing complexity demands ductility

“To achieve the double standing seam, roofers need flexible materials,” says Johan Cronhamn, business area manager for Bevego. “For complicated roofs with lots of dormer windows and chimneys, the work has to be done on site and at height. Granite® HFX Cool Matt handles well and can be formed at temperatures down to -10°C – a key consideration when it comes to the Swedish climate!”

Traditionally, standing seam roofs were made with copper and zinc – metals which are initially bright but become duller over time. In the early 2000s, materials with a gloss finish became more popular. Over the last few years, the market has switched back, explains Johan Cronhamn: “There is a strong preference now for low-gloss roofing. The steel is bent and pressed into shape on the roof and the matt colour disguises any minor marks. That is another reason for the growing popularity of Granite® HFX Cool Matt.”

Magnelis® – the new material for standing seams

Bevego has also been working with a sister company to develop roadside safety equipment out of Magnelis® coated steels from ArcelorMittal. From autumn 2021 they will start to use Magnelis® for standing seam roofs. “Architects like the patina that darkens over time, and Magnelis® has minimal reflectivity, making it suitable for low buildings,” says Johan Cronhamn.

“The Magnelis® we use in roadside applications has a thickness of around 3.0 mm, and it is able to withstand the very corrosive effects of road salts,” notes Johan Cronhamn. “In roofing applications, we will use it in a thickness of 0.6 mm. That will provide the material flexibility roofers need, and long-term protection against corrosion.”

About Bevego

Bevego is a leading provider of sheet metal, ventilation systems, and equipment for roofing and industry applications. Based in Sweden, the company operates more than 30 retail outlets, a steel service centre, and four plants which produce ventilation systems.

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia

Images:
brizmaker / Adobe Stock by courtesy of Bevego
Palatinate Stock / Shutterstock.com

A report from the Steel Construction Institute (SCI) describes their independent review of the performance of the Magnelis® ZM120 coating for corrosion protection. An innovative metallic coating that offers protection in the harshest environments, Magnelis® is a ZM (zinc-aluminium-magnesium) coating in accordance with EN 10346:2015.

Review of Magnelis® coating performance as corrosion protection

The SCI report details the performance of Magnelis® ZM120 coating against corrosion compared with traditional Z275 coating and includes the surface, cut edges, deformed elements, and welded tubes. This independent review and assessment was conducted via a wide range of testing, such as salt-spray tests according to ISO 9227, cyclic tests VDA 621-415 and ECC1, and outdoor exposure tests of up to 10 years.

Conclusions and recommendations

As a result of the performance review and assessment of research information, the SCI findings are as follows:

• Magnelis® ZM120 provides corrosion protection which is not less than the corrosion protection provided by Z275 coating.
• This conclusion applies to surface protection and to protection of cut edges.
• Magnelis® ZM120 is suitable for the same applications as the Z275 coating which is typically specified in UK and Irish construction.
• The design life predictions for the Z275 coating as stated in SCI publication P262 are also applicable to Magnelis® ZM120.

Magnelis® ZM120 applications

While the primary application under consideration was the use of Magnelis® on cold formed sections used in light steel framing, Magnelis® ZM120 is already widely used to manufacture cable trays, flooring systems, indoor ventilation equipment, ceilings, walls and partitions, racking systems, profiled members, and opened and closed profiles.

Magnelis® can be applied to an extensive scope of steel grades, including steels for cold forming and deep drawing applications, as well as structural and high strength, low alloy steels.

About SCI

The Steel Construction Institute has been a trusted, independent source of information and engineering expertise globally for over 30 years. SCI is a leading, independent provider of technical expertise and a disseminator of best practice to the steel construction sector.

The SCI supports everyone involved in steel construction from manufacturers, consulting and design engineers, architects, and product developers to industry groups and peers.

Text:
Constructalia
ArcelorMittal

Images:
SCI
ArcelorMittal

Related link(s)

Review of Magnelis® coating performance as corrosion protection by the Steel Construction Institute

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

Constructalia is one of the world's leading steel reference sites for architects, engineers, and contractors. With our content, features, and online services, we provide decisions makers in the construction industry with comprehensive information about structural and aesthetic steel solutions.

Discover what Constructalia has to offer in this 2-minute video!

Text:
Constructalia

Images:
Constructalia

Video:
Constructalia

ArcelorMittal Europe - Long Products has released an updated version of their composite bridge pre-design software: ACOBRI Version 5.09.

You can download the update for free on our Software page:

https://constructalia.arcelormittal.com/en/tools/software

At Constructalia, we are always striving to bring you the most up-to-date and easy-to-find information about ArcelorMittal Europe steel products and solutions for construction. We spent some time this summer creating new points of reference on Constructalia for you – our valued users.

Constructalia cinematheque

We built a cinematheque to house product, event, training, project, and corporate videos in one place. With just the click of a button, you can be watching the latest webinar or checking out the newest product video.

Steel grades

Looking for steel grade information, but don’t want to search by product? We gathered all of our available mechanical, technical, chemical, and coating particulars for ArcelorMittal steel grades into one hub page for easy access.

Partners

As our Partners section continues to grow, we decided it was time to renovate. You can now locate our partners by category, such as roofing & cladding, agriculture, or light steel structures & profiles.

Text:
Constructalia

Images:
ArcelorMittal Europe - Flat Products, P. Le Pense
Xavier Font Solà
Meteor Systems
ArcelorMittal International
Meko Metal
BP2.eu®