There is a revolution taking place in the power generation market, and Siemens Energy’s turbine and generator business is at the heart of it, as customers respond to the challenges of decarbonisation. Power demand is being driven by economic growth in Asia and the global south, and the explosion in data and AI is ramping up energy needs around the world. Industry wants to be hydrogen-ready, wind turbine capacity is booming, and condensers are in big demand to balance network stability with the widespread transition to renewables.
Siemens Energy and ArcelorMittal are partnering to provide the high-grade electrical steels needed for key components such as the laminated stators at the core of all generators. “Security of supply and consistency of quality is crucial to us with our punching and lamination facilities working at full tilt,” says Andreas Konschak, General Manager, Erfurt, Siemens Energy. “We cannot afford interruptions in supply, and ArcelorMittal has the robust production capacity and technical expertise to deliver on our needs.”
For the energy generation market ArcelorMittal offers its ‘Industry’ range of steels. This includes a wide selection of fully processed and non-oriented electrical steels (NOES) – non-oriented steel has isotropic or multi-dimensional magnetic properties, which are critical for the efficiency of rotating motors and generators.
“The steel characteristics we require are excellent magnetic permeability, strong thermal conductivity, processing punchability, very low energy losses, together with the availability of a wide range of coatings. ArcelorMittal are able to supply all the grades and coatings we need, and we know their R&D teams are constantly working on new solutions to make their electrical steels even more efficient.”
Cristina de Lucas, CMO Electrical Steel and Automotive Sales Director, ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products, added: “Non-oriented steels will be at the forefront of the ‘Green Deal’ and energy transition changes across industry, and we are collaborating with our customers to provide smart solutions wherever we can. Within a generator, the precise thickness of stators and their lamination characteristics have a significant impact on performance, and we understand the calibre of product that customers such as Siemens Energy require.”
This photo was taken during the Top Management meeting in Erfurt in July 2024, where ArcelorMittal and Siemens Energy worked together to shape the strategic roadmap for a long-term partnership.
From left to right: Eric Werner, Master Project Plan Electrical Steels, ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products, Cristina de Lucas, CMO Electrical Steel and Automotive Sales Director, ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products, Mr. Andreas Konschak, CEO – SE IGN Business, Siemens Energy, Mr. Benjamin Seelisch, Head - Raw Material, Strategic Procurement, Siemens Energy, Ali Polat, Key Account Manager Electrical Steels, ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products.
While sitting at the centre of the decarbonisation maelstrom, Siemens Energy is steadily building and delivering on its own journey towards Net Zero. It has set out the target of being Net Zero on its Scope 1 and 2 operations by the end of 2030, and is seeking a 28% reduction on its Scope 3 emissions from 2019 levels by 2030 as well. At its Erfurt facility it is decarbonising its lamination coating line, moving from gas power to green electricity, along with the installation of on-site photovoltaics, and comprehensive insulation of its buildings.
Commenting on Siemens Energy’s carbon reduction journey, Andreas Konschak, General Manager, Erfurt, Siemens Energy says: “Our product portfolio is inherently moving towards a more renewable orientation. Along with reducing our own emissions, we are setting the ambitious target of reducing our upstream supply emissions by 30%, and are engaging closely with our Top 100 suppliers to secure further reductions. It is gratifying that we know ArcelorMittal is equally committed to the decarbonisation journey and is building its portfolio of lower carbon steels. This is the direction of travel that our end-customers want.”
Siemens Energy is increasingly delivering hydrogen-ready gas turbines. Green hydrogen (H2) is set to provide the bridge for balancing out the peaks and troughs of renewable generation from wind and solar, which are subject to the vagaries of weather and seasons. H2-readiness means that a power plant is engineered for easy conversion to hydrogen as soon as sufficient hydrogen is available commercially, and for when the switch to decarbonised fuel becomes mandatory.LeipzigerStadtwerke in Germany is leading the way in decarbonising its district heating and power supply, in partnership with Siemens Energy, with the construction of its 100% hydrogen-ready Leipzig Süd combined heat and power plant.
The Siemens Energy business has been working in close partnership with ArcelorMittal since 2000, and the building up of expertise in electrical steels, together with the booming energy market and decarbonisation transition, are providing a strong platform for developing the relationship further. The coming onstream of ArcelorMittal’s additional electrical steel production of 200,000 tonnes per annum, at Mardyck in France, will deliver the capacity and surety of supply to support Siemens Energy in its ongoing growth and development opportunities out of Erfurt.
Siemens Energy generator cores being assembled at Erfurt, incorporating laminated stators.
Siemens Energy Erfurt plant
ArcelorMittal recently announced the tripling of its electrical steel production capacity to 300,000 tonnes per annum at its Mardyck plant in France.
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Photo credits:
© Siemens Energy & ArcelorMittal
