SSAB supplies decarbonised steel for Vattenfall solar park in Germany

SSAB is supplying decarbonised steel to Vattenfall for the construction of the Juliusburg/Krukow solar park in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, in a move aimed at reducing emissions within renewable energy supply chains.

The project will use SSAB Zero™, a steel product manufactured from recycled scrap using fossil-free electricity and biogas. According to SSAB, the material delivers up to 70% lower fossil carbon emissions compared with conventionally produced steel while maintaining the same performance and quality standards.

The steel will be used in the supporting structures for the ground-mounted solar installation, with more than 9,000 steel profiles and a combined weight of 209 tonnes planned for deployment at the site.

While solar energy plays a growing role in Germany’s transition away from fossil fuels, the construction of renewable energy infrastructure itself continues to generate emissions through materials such as steel and concrete. The use of lower-emission steel is intended to address part of the carbon footprint embedded in the construction phase of renewable projects.

SSAB said the agreement demonstrates how industrial customers can support the market for lower-carbon materials by incorporating decarbonised products into large-scale infrastructure developments. The company added that increasing demand for fossil-free and recycled steel solutions is essential to accelerating industrial decarbonisation across Europe.

Vattenfall described the initiative as part of its wider strategy to reduce emissions throughout its value chain, rather than focusing solely on operational emissions from electricity generation. The company noted that renewable energy projects can further strengthen their climate credentials by addressing emissions linked to construction materials and supply chains.

The Juliusburg/Krukow solar park is expected to contribute to Germany’s efforts to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels while supporting broader energy transition goals. The collaboration between SSAB and Vattenfall also reflects a growing trend among energy developers and industrial suppliers to integrate lower-emission materials into renewable infrastructure projects as climate targets expand beyond direct operational impacts.