14/12/2023 – Reduce carbon emissions in the production of medium-voltage switchgear
Outokumpu and Siemens join forces
Outokumpu and Siemens have agreed on the first deliveries of the world’s first towards-zero stainless steel. Outokumpu “Circle Green”, with up to a 93% lower carbon footprint than the industry average*, will be used to produce medium-voltage switchgear. The collaboration supports both companies in reaching their ambitious climate targets.
Heikki Malinen, President and CEO at Outokumpu, and Mark Backhaus, Head of Factory at Siemens’ Frankfurt switchgear factory. © Siemens
“The rising energy demand and future of green solutions are dependent on sustainable stainless steel. By transitioning to renewable energy and investing in low-carbon technologies and materials today, we can fight climate change. Our spearhead climate solution, ‘Circle Green’, enables green energy transition and brings a true opportunity to transform various industries. We are proud to join forces with Siemens, who shows the way towards a low-emission future,” says Niklas Wass, President, Stainless Europe business line Outokumpu.
Recognizing that the urgent need for decarbonization and increased electrification requires sustainable solutions, Siemens is committed to using sustainable stainless steel for medium-voltage switchgear for electric cabinets in wind turbines.
“As industries around the world look to reduce carbon emissions to reach ambitious net-zero targets, sustainable steel has a huge potential. In Outokumpu we have found an organization dedicated to accelerating the industrial decarbonization of stainless-steel production,” said Stephan May, CEO of Electrification and Automation at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. “By utilizing sustainable materials in our Electrification and Automation portfolio, we are frontrunners in driving a responsible approach to industry progress.”
“Circle Green” production was the first of its kind globally, as no other stainless steel manufacturer has been able to produce stainless steel with such low emission levels when taking into account all the climate emissions from raw material extraction throughout the whole production chain. To produce “Circle Green” and to reach up to a 93% lower carbon footprint, Outokumpu uses 100% low-carbon electricity, low-carbon raw materials, such as recycled steel, and reinvented production processes.
If all the stainless steel in the world was produced with the same methods as used for “Circle Green” production, it would reduce global carbon emissions from the entire stainless steel value chain by 364 million tons per year. This equals over 900 million one-way flights of one passenger across the Atlantic Ocean from London to New York.
*) Global average CO2 emissions (2023): 7 kg CO2e per kg of stainless steel (Outokumpu’s calculation based on data provided by CRU and worldstainless). Outokumpu Circle Green CO2 emissions: down to 0.5 kg CO?e per kg of stainless steel.
www.outokumpu.com | www.siemens.com
