Alusín Solar chooses ArcelorMittal’s XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced steels with Magnelis^® coating for the production of solar panel support structures

• ArcelorMittal’s XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced steel with Magnelis^® coating will provide a 70% reduction in CO₂ emissions.
• Following the recent €10 million investment in Galvanising Line no. 1, ArcelorMittal’s plant in Avilés is able to meet the full range of requirements for Magnelis^® for the solar panel market.
• The use of Magnelis^® in the production of poles in metal structures for solar panels offers a highly efficient solution and is increasingly used in Europe.

From left to right:
Pablo González (Manager Asturias Distribution Solutions Centre), Francisco Suárez-Valdés (Head Technical Client Team Region South, ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products), Javier Fernández-Font (General Manager Alusín Solar), Pablo Avello (COO Finishing Asturias Cluster)

Alusín Solar, a company specialising in the design, manufacture and installation of metal support structures for solar panels, and ArcelorMittal, are working together to lower the CO₂ footprint of Alusín Solar’s products.

Alusín Solar, a Spanish company which has supplied structures for the erection of solar panels representing a generation capacity of more than 850 MW in more than 32 countries, has signed an agreement to purchase ArcelorMittal’s XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced steel with Magnelis^® coating, a metallic coating which provides very high corrosion protection. XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced steel is made using 100% renewable electricity and a very high proportion of recycled steel.

The partnership between Alusín Solar and ArcelorMittal shows close collaboration at local level can yield substantial benefits. In the framework of this collaboration, Alusín Solar has carried out its first tests on the production of solar poles using Magnelis^®, which is a much more efficient method than producing structures to be postgalvanised. This solution will enable Alusín Solar to respond faster to its customers’ demands. A key factor for the success of this project has been the development by ArcelorMittal of an automatic 15-year guarantee for installation in soils, for Alusín Solar.

These positive results arrive at the best moment, as, from May, ArcelorMittal’s plant in Aviles, Spain, will be able to produce XCarb^® recycled and renewably produced Magnelis^® in thicknesses of up to 3.5 mm on its recently revamped Galvanising Line no. 1; this offers a 70% reduction in CO₂ emissions per tonne of steel produced compared with the conventional manufacturing method.

Until now, Magnelis^® customers in Spain have been supplied partially (for thicknesses over 2 mm) from ArcelorMittal sites elsewhere in Europe. Having a local supplier able to cover the full needs of the solar market further reduces indirect CO₂ emissions, as well as delivery times.

Alusín Solar will be one of the first customers to purchase XCarb^® RRP Magnelis^® from the newly revamped line, following the successful technical cooperation carried out to optimize supplies of steel for the solar sector, thus providing a significant physical reduction in the CO₂ footprint.

The participation of ArcelorMittal Distribution Solutions Iberia in this process was also key to the successful optimisation of the supply chain.

Magnelis^®, a product that offers multiple benefits

ArcelorMittal’s Magnelis^® is a metallic coating that offers exceptional corrosion protection and ensures optimal surface protection against long-term wear and tear.

Thanks to its unique composition, Magnelis^® provides an unprecedented level of surface and cut-edge protection, even in the harshest environments. Additionally, the self-healing effect of Magnelis^® ensures the protection of uncoated edges, scratches and perforations.

It is precisely this self-healing effect of the Magnelis^® coating that will enable Alusín Solar to start marketing, in the coming weeks, its CAREX technical walkways made of this material, for use on roofs.

In terms of protection, Magnelis^® performs up to ten times better than galvanised steel and it outperforms coatings containing less magnesium. Thanks to the high durability and adhesion of the coating, the steel can be shaped using different forming methods, including bending, drawing and profiling.

Moreover, Magnelis^® has a significantly lower environmental impact compared to other alternative materials, both in its production and during its service life.

Last but not least, it also offers greater freedom to optimise the design of the parts (thanks to the ability of Magnelis^® to protect deformed shapes), the possibility of using a lower weight of Magnelis^® coating (depending on environment) to obtain the same level of corrosion resistance, protection of flat and deformed surfaces as well as cut edges, and an optimised logistics chain thanks to its simpler production process.

Magnelis^® is the best choice for a wide variety of applications. Its use is currently expanding towards other applications in a variety of sectors, such as:

• Road safety barriers.
• Applications in the agricultural sector, including materials for the construction of chicken coops, greenhouses, ventilation systems, vineyard poles, etc.
• Industrial equipment, such as cable trays, cooling towers, etc.
• Tubes and profiles for building and construction applications.
  
  

In line with ArcelorMittal’s commitment to offering products with a low CO₂ footprint, Magnelis^® produced in Asturias will also be available under the Xcarb^® recycled and renewably produced brand and with Xcarb^® green steel certificates.