Steel Sets the Future

— We are now going to test new steel that will be an important part of our focus on sustainability and an environmentally friendly future, says Head of Procurement & Logistics at Møre Trafo, Ole Jakob Tronstad. 

The New Steel

The steel from supplier ArcelorMittal is made from recycled material, using energy from renewable sources like wind and solar. Møre Trafo is now waiting for its first delivery. This environmentally friendly steel will be tested in the production of transformers and substations, and will cut CO2 emissions by as much as 65 percent. 

Møre Trafo will also test electrical steel from ThyssenKrupp which, through its innovative product “Bluemint”, cuts the CO2 footprint by 50 percent. 

Greener Production

— This is just the beginning. By 2025 we will gradually increase the share of greener materials in our production. Møre Trafos vision is to create transformers that are as efficient as they are environmentally friendly, says Ole Jakob. 

Transformers and Substations

ArcelorMittal (AM) has been Møre Trafos main steel supplier for the past four years, and AM has put increasing focus on its production processes to make more environmentally friendly steel. They now supply XCarb®- RRP – recycled and renewably produced steel. The steel is produced in an electric arc furnace (EAF) with a high share of scrap metal and 100 percent renewable electricity. 

Recycled and Renewable Energy

“XCarb® is our umbrella brand for all our CO2-reducing products, and RRP is one of the products under this umbrella. Our goal is to build a better world with smarter steel,” says CEO Aditya Mittal at AM. 

Core Steel

For core steel/electrical steel used in transformer cores, ThyssenKrupp Electrical Steel has supplied Møre Trafo for over 30 years. In recent years, ThyssenKrupp has worked very actively to develop a product with lower CO2 emissions than today’s. 

First in the Nordics

— This has resulted in the product “Bluemint”, which uses a higher share of recycled steel, carefully selected to meet the requirements for the finished electrical steel. “Bluemint” cuts emissions by 50 percent. Møre Trafo is the first transformer manufacturer in the Nordics to sign an agreement with ThyssenKrupp to purchase “Bluemint” in 2025, explains Ole Jakob. 

The Start Phase

Møre Trafo is still in the very early phase here, and will initially use around 10 percent of the more environmentally friendly steel in its production, but plans to increase this going forward. 

Over the next few years, ThyssenKrupp will invest NOK 40 billion to replace one of its blast furnaces for steel production with a furnace that produces steel based on hydrogen.