Steel company SSAB switches to fossil-free energy in Italy with PV solution from Solnet
Solnet Group, a Europe-wide operating solar energy company has just completed a turnkey solar plant project for SSAB's Italian branch, SSAB Swedish Steel S.p.A.
This project combines Solnet's solar energy for the first time with a sustainable GreenCoat® color coated steel roof, which was supplied by Ruukki Construction, a division of the SSAB Group. GreenCoat® color-coated steels use Swedish rapeseed oil in the coating, a patented solution by SSAB that minimizes the ecological impact.
Solnet Group is a provider of cutting-edge smart solar solutions for corporate customers in Europe. The company has taken care of planning SSAB’s solar plant project and installation of solar panels on the roof of the property. The system size is 756kWp and the annual estimated energy output is 830 MWh.
“We are pleased to participate in SSAB’s fossil-free transition. Onsite solar is a great element for SSAB to reach their sustainability targets”, says Kaj Kangasmäki, CEO of Solnet Group.
Taking solar energy into use will result in the complete operation of the SSAB Ghedi Steel Service Center using fossil-free energy, aligning with SSAB's broader commitment to sustainability. The company aims to largely eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from its operations by around 2030.
"We are happy to be able to reach our sustainability targets with the help of solar energy. We will consume roughly 50% of the solar energy provided by the solar system for our Ghedi steel service center production, office building, and the charging of our electric vehicles. The rest will be sold back to the grid”, says Julia Seeber, Managing Director, SSAB Swedish Steel S.p.A.
The SSAB Steel Service Center in Ghedi, Italy manufactures cut-to-length steel from well-known SSAB brands such as SSAB Laser, Strenx, SSAB Domex, and SSAB Boron. With an annual processing capacity of 80,000 tons, all production activities at this facility are now powered solely by fossil-free energy.