Wind turbine manufacturer Vestas has established a partnership with steel supplier ArcelorMittal to launch a low-emission steel offering that significantly reduces lifetime carbon dioxide emissions from the production of wind turbine towers.
The low-emission steel is produced using 100% steel scrap which is melted in an electric arc furnace powered by 100% wind energy at the ArcelorMittal steel mill, Industeel Charleroi, in Belgium. The steel slabs are then transformed into heavy plates used for the manufacture of wind turbine towers, at ArcelorMittal’s heavy plate mill in Gijon, Spain. These heavy plates made with low-emission steel are initially suitable for the entire onshore wind turbine towers and the top section of offshore wind turbine towers. The low-emission heavy plate steel has an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), certified by an independent party, detailing the complete environmental footprint of the product, and allowing easier comparison between products.
Using low-emission steel in the top two sections of an offshore tower, reduces emissions by 25% compared with a tower made from steel made via conventional steelmaking, according to Vestas.
Steel and iron constitute half of a turbine’s total lifecycle emissions.
The low emission steel is not yet a standard offering from Vestas but it will be used in the Baltic Power wind project off the coast of Poland, where Vestas will supply, install and commission 76 V236-15.0 MW wind turbines. The top section of 52 towers out of the 76 will be made with low-emission steel.
Laurent Plasman, CMO Industry, ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products, said:“This partnership sends a strong message that it is possible today, to start building the renewable energy infrastructure needed in Europe, with low carbon-emissions steel made with a European supply chain. Having a strong partnership throughout the supply chain is vital to achieve this, so we would like to thank Vestas and Baltic Power for their vision in using XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel in this important offshore wind project. With stronger public policy support for the use of low carbon-emissions steel in the building of renewables infrastructure, this project could be the first of many to provide wind energy for homes and industry across Europe.”