Taking the Energy Transition One Step Further
The Juliusburg/Krukow Solar Park is more than just the fossil-free electricity it generates each year. It also highlights an increasingly important question as renewable energy transition accelerates: How do we build the infrastructure needed to support the energy systems of the future?
To power industry, transportion and society, a substantial expansion of fossil-free energy generation will be required over the coming decades. But as new solar parks, wind farms and power grids are developed, increasing attention is also being paid to how the energy infrastructure itself is built.
As investments continue to grow, a new question is emerging: How can we build the infrastructure needed to enable the transition while minimizing its climate impact?
In northern Germany, Vattenfall’s Juliusburg/Krukow Solar Park provides one example of a solar facility generating enough fossil-free electricity to meet the annual needs of around 30,000 households. At the same time, it helps strengthen the region’s fossil-free energy supply.
Towards a lower climate footprint for energy infrastructure
The energy transition is primarily about expanding fossil-free alternate power generation. However, focus is also increasingly turning to the emissions associated with building the infrastructure itself.
Behind every solar park, wind farm and grid investment are large volumes of materials required to ensure reliable, long-term operation. As investments in energy infrastructure continue to grow, the climate impact of these materials is becoming an increasingly important part of the overall transition. Behind the thousands of solar panels are the supporting structures that keep the facility in place and enable electricity generation for decades to come.
In the Krukow section of Vattenfall’s solar park, SSAB Zero™ is used in the steel structures that support the solar panels.
These structures are a critical part of the facility and can withstand weather, wind and significant temperature variations throughout the life of the solar park.
Fossil-free thinking throughout the value chain
For Vattenfall, the use of low-emission steel is part of a broader effort to reduce emissions throughout the supply chain. The goal is not only to cut carbon emissions once electricity generation begins, but to address them across multiple stages of a project lifecycle., the use of low-emission steel is part of a broader effort to reduce emissions throughout the supply chain. The goal is not only to cut carbon emissions once electricity generation begins, but to address them across multiple stages of a project lifecycle.
“The electricity generated by this solar park helps reduce Germany’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. For us, however, fossil-freedom does not end with electricity generation, it begins at the very start of the value chain. That is why we are pleased to take this pioneering step together with our partner SSAB by using low-emission steel in the supporting structures. By leading the way as companies, we contribute to the long-term societal goal of a fossil-free future,” says Claus Wattendrup, Head of Solar & Batteries at Vattenfall.
By using SSAB Zero™, the project reduces emissions by 300 tonnes of CO₂ during construction. It demonstrates how climate impact can be lowered not only through the energy produced, but also through the choices made when building the infrastructure that enables the energy transition.
Achieving climate targets requires more than new technologies and increased production of fossil-free energy. It also depends on close collaboration across the supply chain, where energy companies, material producers and other stakeholders work together to drive progress.
“Projects like this demonstrate how the climate impact of renewable energy generation can be reduced even further by addressing emissions throughout the supply chain. With SSAB Zero™, we deliver low-emission steel with the same quality and performance as conventional steel. Vattenfall’s decision to use our steel is a clear example of how ambitious customers can help scale solutions that reduce emissions and strengthen demand for low-emission materials,” says Matts Nilsson, Executive Vice President and Head of Sales at SSAB Europe.
As new solar parks, wind farms and power grids are developed, attention is increasingly focused not only on the energy they deliver but also on the emissions generated along the way. At Juliusburg/Krukow, our goal is to minimize climate impact from the outset by incorporating sustainability into the facility’s supporting structures, well before any sunlight is converted into electricity.
As new solar parks, wind farms and power grids are developed, attention is increasingly focused not only on the energy they deliver but also on the emissions generated along the way. At Juliusburg/Krukow, our goal is to minimize climate impact from the outset by incorporating sustainability into the facility’s supporting structures, well before any sunlight is converted into electricity.
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