Georgsmarienhütte GmbH is expanding its green electricity portfolio with a new photovoltaic system: The new one is expected to generate 400,000 kWh of electricity annually for its own steel production. A total of 1,058 PV modules were installed on the roof of a factory hall with an area of 3,660 m² in Georgsmarienhütte, south of Osnabrück. In total, these have an output of 449.65 kWp. According to the company, the west-east orientation of the system ensures a consistent yield, which is expected to generate 400,000 kWh of solar power annually.
This brings the company one step closer to producing green steel at the largest location in the Georgsmarienhütte Group (GMH). The goal is to halve CO₂ emissions by 2030 and to produce completely climate-neutral steel by 2039. For the transformation, switching to renewable energies is the strongest lever for reducing CO₂.
“Our goal in the future is to produce exclusively with green electricity. This means we will reduce our CO₂ emissions by around two thirds. Georgsmarienhütte GmbH is already covering 30% of its electricity needs from renewable energies this year. This is achieved through certificates of origin from German wind farms and PPAs,” says Marc-Oliver Arnold, Plant Director at Georgsmarienhütte GmbH.
Closer to climate neutrality
Before the system was installed, the hall roof had to be strengthened and prepared for the weight of the solar modules. Other roofs of the Georgmarienhütte are statistically not suitable for the construction of panels. The company would therefore like to install a 20,000 m² open-space PV system on the site of the former Westerkamp interim storage facility.
“The photovoltaic system on the hall roof is a further step towards being able to obtain more green electricity. Of course, we are aware that the yield from our PV system cannot come close to compensating for our electricity consumption. But every small step towards generating green electricity helps to reduce CO₂ emissions and make progress towards climate neutrality,” says the Plant Director.
Georgsmarienhütte also wants to produce climate-neutral steel using hydrogen.
