Energie Friesland supplies solar power for green steel production

Friesen Elektra PV I Sande GmbH & Co. KG and Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH have concluded a long-term electricity supply agreement. The sustainably produced electricity is to come from the "Hybrid Energy Park Sande" currently under construction in the district of Friesland in Lower Saxony. Salzgitter Flachstahl intends to use the energy generated from wind power and photovoltaic plants for green steel production. 

With the so-called Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), Salzgitter Flachstahl says it has secured a permanent supply of around 80 MW of green electricity from the new Sande Hybrid Energy Park from May 2024. 

Salzgitter intends to use the sustainably produced energy to secure its SALCOS® - Salzgitter Low CO2 Steelmaking transformation program. The green electricity from the photovoltaic plants would initially be part of the "electricity procurement portfolio". In the long term, however, it is planned to use the electricity also for the production of green hydrogen. At the same time, the contract includes the option to purchase hydrogen produced on site, he said. Green hydrogen is a core element in the Salzgitter Group's production of virtually CO2-free steel. 

Energie Friesland is currently expanding the existing "Sande Wind Farm". It is scheduled to be connected to the grid at the beginning of 2024 and will then produce energy from wind power and photovoltaic systems. In the final expansion stage, the hybrid energy park is to achieve a total output of more than 120 MW.