Low-Emission Steel
Low-emission steel
Recognising the environmental impact of steel and iron components, Vestas has established a partnership with ArcelorMittal to launch a low-emission steel offering that significantly reduces lifetime carbon dioxide emissions from the production of wind turbine towers. This is yet another initiative where Vestas continues to execute on its sustainability strategy which also includes addressing the materials, we use to make wind turbines.
Steel and iron constitute 80-90% of a wind turbine's material mass, and approximately 50% of a turbine’s total lifecycle emissions. With the partnership with ArcelorMittal, Vestas takes an important step forward to reduce CO2 emissions occurring in its supply chain and can achieve a 66% decrease in emission intensity per kg steel compared with steel produced via the conventional steelmaking route.
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Sustainability collaborations and customer commitments are vital to drive the transition towards an even more sustainable wind industry. Our partnership with ArcelorMittal coupled with the adoption of low-emission steel are key levers in reducing CO2 emissions from wind turbine tower production, while increasing the value of our products to our customers.
Lisa Ekstrand, Vice President and Head of Sustainability at Vestas
Have a look at the infographic below
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.
