Vestas to deploy 'first offshore wind turbines with low-emission steel' after ArcelorMittal pact
OEM giant will deploy turbines using greener towers when construction of Baltic Power begins next year
Vestas has established a partnership with metals giant ArcelorMittal as part of a commitment to transition toward low-emission steel in the manufacture of its wind turbines, and the company plans to start deploying the greener machines next year on the Baltic Power array in Poland.
In its statement on the new initiative, the Danish turbine maker referred to a plan to use low-emission steel produced using scrap metal melted in an electric arc furnace powered by 100% wind energy at the ArcelorMittal steel mill, Industeel Charleroi, in Belgium.
The resulting low-emission heavy steel plates are described as suitable for entire onshore wind turbine towers and the top section of offshore turbine towers.
The OEM added that steel and iron currently 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 said it can achieve a 66% decrease in emission intensity per kilogramme, compared with steel produced via the conventional steelmaking route.
Vestas acknowledged that the low emission steel is not yet its standard offering, but said it will be used on the Baltic Power offshore Wind Project off the coast of Poland, which will be an industry first.
Polish energy company Orlen and co-developer Northland Power plan to start offshore construction on the 1.2GW array next year, with the aim of supplying clean electricity to more than 1.5 million households in Poland.
Vestas will supply, install, and commission 76 V236-15.0 MW wind turbines for the Baltic Power offshore wind project and said the top sections of 52 towers out of the 76 will be made with low-emission steel.
Dieter Dehoorne, head of global procurement with the company commented: “Finding ways to decarbonise the emissions produced during the raw material extraction and refinement of steel is vital for us and the industry in general."
Laurent Plasman, chief marketing officer at ArcelorMittal Europe (Flat Products), added: “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.”
Help wanted
But Plasman hinted at demands for additional backing from European authorities.
“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.”
Jarosław Broda, CEO Baltic Power, commmented: "As the first offshore wind farm in the world to utilise low-emission steel, Baltic Power, a joint venture between Orlen and Northland Power, is pioneering a sustainable future in the renewable energy sector."
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