The solar park taking the energy transition one step further
The Juliusburg/Krukow solar park is about more than the fossil-free electricity it generates each year. It also highlights an increasingly important question as the energy transition accelerates: how do we build the infrastructure needed for the energy system of the future?
Electrifying industry, transportation and society will require a major expansion of fossil-free energy production in the decades ahead. But as new solar parks, wind farms and power grids are developed, attention is also turning to how this energy infrastructure is built.
Located in northern Germany, Vattenfall’s ground-mounted Juliusburg/Krukow solar park generates enough fossil-free electricity to meet the annual demand of around 30,000 households. At the same time, it helps strengthen the region’s fossil-free energy supply.
Reducing the carbon footprint of energy infrastructure
The energy transition is primarily about expanding fossil-free energy production. But growing attention is now being paid to the emissions generated during the construction of that infrastructure. As investments increase, a new question emerges: how can we build the infrastructure needed for the transition with the lowest possible climate impact?
Every solar park, wind farm and grid investment requires large quantities of materials 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 installation in place and enable electricity generation for decades to come.
At the Vattenfall 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 must withstand weather, wind and significant temperature variations throughout the park’s lifetime.
For Vattenfall, the use of low-emission steel is part of a broader effort to reduce emissions across the entire value chain. The ambition is for carbon reduction to begin not when the first electricity is produced, but already during the construction phase of the project.
Fossil-free thinking throughout the value chain
Vattenfall’s solar park in Juliusburg/Krukow
Location: Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany, near the communities of Juliusburg and Krukow
Capacity: 80 MWp installed capacity, generating up to 120 GWh of fossil-free solar electricity annually
Size: The solar park covers approximately 74 hectares
In the Krukow section of the facility, near-zero emission steel is used in the support structures. This reduces carbon emissions in the construction and supply chain by 67 percent, from 460 tonnes to 153 tonnes of CO₂.
“The electricity generated by this solar park helps reduce Germany’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. However, for us, fossil freedom does not start with electricity production, 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 a company, we contribute to the long-term societal goal of a fossil-free future,” says Claus Wattendrup, Head of Solar & Batteries at Vattenfall.
Why material choices matter
By using SSAB Zero™, the project reduces emissions by 300 tonnes of carbon dioxide during construction. This demonstrates how climate impact can be reduced not only through the energy produced, but also through the choices made when building the infrastructure that enables the energy transition. At the same time, SSAB Zero™ delivers the same quality, performance and technical properties as conventional steel, making it suitable even for advanced and demanding applications.
“Projects like this demonstrate how the climate impact of renewable energy production can be reduced even further by addressing emissions throughout the supply chain. With SSAB Zero™, we provide low-emission steel with the same quality and performance as traditional 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.
Achieving climate targets will require more than new technologies and increased fossil-free energy production. It also calls for close collaboration across the value chain, where energy companies, material producers and other stakeholders work together to drive progress.
As electrification accelerates, the need for new energy infrastructure will grow significantly. Solar parks, wind farms and power grids are becoming an increasingly important part of a competitive and resilient society. As a result, the future will be shaped not only by how much new infrastructure is built, but also by how it is built. Lower-emission material choices provide an opportunity to reduce emissions from the outset and can play an important role in shaping the energy systems of tomorrow.
