Rahul Somvanshi
Nucor has introduced Elcyon, a new sustainable heavy gauge steel plate product, which has been developed to meet the increasing demands of America’s offshore wind energy industry. The product will be manufactured at the company’s new, $1.7 billion state-of-the-art Nucor Brandenburg steel mill in Kentucky which produced its first steel plate in December 2022. The CEO of Nucor, Leon Topalian, said that by launching Elcyon at Brandenburg, they have effectively created the first domestic supply chain of sustainable steel for the nation’s offshore wind energy industry. He added that as the demand for alternative energy sources like offshore wind continues to grow and manufacturers push for larger turbines, Elcyon’s larger and thicker plate sizes will help the United States become a leader in offshore wind production.
Nucor has introduced Elcyon, a clean and advanced steel product that is manufactured using Nucor’s recycled scrap-based electric arc furnace process, which has a greenhouse gas emissions intensity that is one-fifth the global average of blast furnace extractive steelmaking. Elcyon is created specifically to meet the quality standards of offshore wind energy designers, manufacturers, and fabricators, it is the only steel of its kind in the United States. This steel is manufactured with Thermo-Mechanical Controlled Processing (TMCP) at the new mill, and it is characterized by larger plate dimensions, improved weldability, and excellent fracture toughness, as compared to competing products. Elcyon will be an essential component of the supply chain to continue developing our nation’s offshore wind power infrastructure. The recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which included $300 billion for clean energy development and climate programs, supports the Biden Administration’s goal to build 30 GW of offshore wind power by 2030. This could result in approximately 7.5 million tons of additional steel demand and create enough clean energy to power 10 million homes.
Nucor Steel Brandenburg has become the first steel plant in the world to pursue certification under LEED v4 from the U.S. Green Building Council, the highest standard for sustainable building design, construction, and operation. The new state-of-the-art mill, located in the middle of the largest steel plate-consuming region in the country, has the capacity to produce 97% of plate products consumed domestically, with a potential output of 1.2 million tons of steel annually.
Elcyon and the Brandenburg mill both draw on Nucor’s long-standing commitment to sustainable steel production. The company has launched several innovative products, such as Econiq™, the world’s first net-zero steel available at scale, and recently became the first major industrial company to join the United Nations 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Global Compact. Nucor’s consistent efforts to meet the needs of its customers and other stakeholders while protecting the well-being of our planet.
“We are committed to continue investing and constructing facilities that are focused on recycling steel, which will aid in achieving a sustainable energy future,” said Johnny Jacobs, Vice President and General Manager of Nucor Steel Brandenburg. “Elcyon steel plate is an illustration of Nucor’s dedication to sustainability and our emphasis on delivering a differentiated value proposition by creating products that are not available elsewhere.” Nucor intends to offer Elcyon in a wide range of plate grades and sizes, and will collaborate closely with end-users to meet their specific needs and specifications.
