First Wind & Solar Power Steel Plants in the Works
Nucor will be building the first wind-powered US steel mill plant, expected to open in Sedalia, Missouri. This plant is part of a partnership between Nucor and Evergy through a 75-megawatt power purchase agreement.
The purpose of this plant will be to melt recycled scrap into rebar for construction.
Steel is one of the most climate-friendly materials in construction due to the fact that you can recycle it. Yet, the steel industry contributes 6-7% of greenhouse gas emissions through its energy use and reliance on fossil fuels.
According to World Steel Production, the steel industry already meets sustainability efforts in a number of ways. Recycling, use of co-products, and energy efficiency ensure this. By using wind power as a main energy source, steel producers can ensure sustainable measures from beginning to end of the steel lifecycle.
Given an expected population increase to 8.6 billion by the year 2030, there is a need to increase steel production for construction.
Even with wind power as the main source of energy, the plant will rely on electricity provided by fossil fuel as well. Like solar energy, wind power is an intermittent source of energy. The base load depends upon the effectiveness of energy storage and distribution.
While access to wind power was part of the decision for the plant location, proximity to scrap steel and end-users was too. Kansas and Nebraska were two wind “rich” states that stakeholders considered. Moreover, Nucor sought a long-term fixed competitive electric rate to ensure the economic success of the plant. This is how they finalized the location.
Dec. 31, 2019