ArcelorMittal supplies 23,000 tonnes of heavy plate for wind farm „Wikinger“ near Rügen

ArcelorMittal will supply around 23,000 tonnes of heavy plate for the construction of 29 wind turbines between March 2015 and March 2016. The heavy plates, which will be used for the jacket foundations, will be delivered from the ArcelorMittal plant in Gijón (Spain). In the first quarter of 2016, the installation of the jackets will start. It is expected to be completed by the end of summer the same year.

The “Wikinger” wind farm is being developed by the Spanish electricity producer Iberdrola, which last December awarded the contract for the foundation jackets and piles to a joint venture formed by Navantia and Windar Renovables (Daniel Alonso Group).

In this project, the solution chosen for the foundations was to use jackets, i.e. steel structures specifically designed to securely anchor the wind turbine towers to the sea bed. „Wikinger“ is one of the largest offshore wind power projects ever developed by a Spanish company and Iberdrola’s first offshore wind energy project in Germany as well. Covering a total area of around 35 square kilometres, the wind turbines will be built in water depths of 37 to 43 meters. In the future, they will produce energy for more than 350,000 households in Germany – and help save nearly 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

Thanks to an extensive experience in the supply of heavy plate for the construction of onshore wind turbines, the contract has been awarded by ArcelorMittal. The development of new steel grades and the use of state-of-the-art steel processing technologies have enabled the company to broaden its steel product offer so as to access new markets and diversify its product range.

The supply of heavy plate for the offshore wind turbines of the “Wikinger” project is yet another step in this direction. To meet the requirements of such wind farms, these steel grades must provide not only specific mechanical properties, but must also offer outstanding resistance to corrosion in a highly aggressive environment.