In major cities around the world, industrial activity is creating visible damages. (Source: International Business Times)

In order to meet this mark, industries need to find sustainable sources of fuel in the near future, or be met with costly penalties. Up to now, the price of non-renewable fuel was too attractive for clean energy to be competitive. However, tighter regulations, major leaps in technology and state-level commitment have birthed a new era of renewable energy.

Energy you can bank on

According to Bloomberg analysts, USD 10.2 trillion will be spent on new power generation by 2040, 72 percent of which will go towards wind and solar photovoltaic plants. By then, the cost of solar electricity will drop 66 percent, meaning by 2021, solar power will be cheaper than energy from coal in China, India, Mexico and the UK. The cost of onshore wind power will decrease by 47 percent by 2040, and offshore wind power by 71 percent thanks to more advanced and cost-effective wind turbines.  

Renewable energy is getting more and more competitive, and companies who don’t make the switch to clean fuel will be left out of the race.

SEE ALSO: How POSCO Sees a Future of Renewable Energy

However, electricity doesn’t fall from trees.

It falls from steel! Tons of steel (literally) are used to extract and convert energy from renewable energy sources.

Wind Energy

Most wind turbines are made of steel, and for an average wind turbine, 140 tons of steel are used. That accounts for 80 percent of all the materials that go into the tower, the nacelle, rotor blades and its supporting facilities. The majority of steel is used to make the tower which serves as the foundation on which the blades turn to generate energy. There are several types of turbine towers, such as steel-concrete hybrid towers, steel truss towers and steel lattice towers, but about 90 percent of all wind turbine towers are made of tubular steel. Also, steel’s non-corrosive properties maximize the lifetime of wind turbines and minimize maintenance costs.

Solar Energy

Solar electricity is one of the most promising types of renewable energy. By as soon as 2030, it can make up 13 percent of the world’s energy, and by 2050, the sun will be the largest source of electricity on earth. And steel will be soaking it all up – the sunlight that is. Steel makes up not only the frame of the solar panels, but the heat exchangers and other related infrastructure. Stainless steel is a great choice for solar panel frames because it is dense, high in strength and has the greatest corrosion-resistance than other light metals.  

SEE ALSO: India: A Rising Sun in the Global Renewable Energy Industry

Geothermal Energy

Mother earth just keeps on giving. There are about 1400 TWh of geothermal energy in the earth’s core that can be harvested by 2050. Geothermal energy gives off extreme heat, so it is vital for the heat exchangers, condensers, pipes, filters, pumps and valves to be corrosion resistant. Otherwise, maintenance costs would be unsustainable and corrosion can contaminate the water as well. That’s why most of the infrastructure related to geothermal energy is made of iron castings, stainless steel and steel alloys.

Tidal Energy

There’s plenty of energy in the sea as well. In the world’s oceans, there are about 1 million megawatts of usable tidal energy. Steel makes up most parts of the underwater turbines including the nacelles, support structures and underlying piles for a sturdy and sustainable power source. As with other renewable energy, increasing the lifetime and decreasing maintenance costs will determine the competitiveness of tidal energy. Thus, stainless steel is the go-to material for corrosion resistance. The infrastructure related to tidal energy extraction is massive in scale and will call for thousands and thousands of pounds of steel to construct.  

Korea is the largest source of tidal energy in the world, with 552.7 GHw of electricity harvested from Siwha Lake every year. It’s also where steelmaker POSCO is located to provide the necessary types and grades of steel for renewable energy production.

POSCO E&C has its own solar, wind, tidal and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plants, which makes sure even industrial wastes get turned into energy. The company was also the first company in Korea to build a solar power plant in 8 different regions capable of generating 31.2MW of solar electricity.

In order to stay competitive in the market, industries are already using or transitioning towards renewable energy sources to fuel their business activities. As governments around the globe also commit to a greener future, the demand for steel used in renewable energy infrastructure will see a significant boost.

Cover photo courtesy of the National Geographic.

There is a shocking amount of garbage and waste in the world’s oceans, and it has gone unchecked for far too long. Ocean currents have drawn these floating garbage patches together into distinct regions, and, according to the National Geographic, one in the Pacific covers an area larger than Mexico.

The world’s largest garbage dump is found in the world’s oceans. (Source: Stem Jobs)

Individuals, governments, and companies are heeding the call of oceanographers and other scientists and realizing more and more that a healthy ocean is vital to humanity’s survival. Many organizations are working to protect this natural resource by implementing sustainable, responsible practices to help clean up the oceans.

The State of the Ocean Today

Plastic is a major problem for the ocean. It breaks down into microparticles, which are nearly impossible to clean up. Places like Henderson Island, in the South Pacific region, are covered in tens of millions of pieces of trash.

Animals like seabirds consume the plastic at alarming rates: it is found in 90 percent of seabirds, according to Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. The study also says that plastic production is rapidly increasing, and so are the rates of ingestion by seabirds.

A bird eating plastic on the beach. (Source: Science Mag)

Plastic is not the only problem. Oil, fertilizers, sewage disposal, and chemical usage on land is affecting the oceans and killing marine ecosystems. The US National Research Council says 36 percent of the oil in the oceans come from city and industry waste and runoff.

Fertilizers are entering the ocean in much the same way. Even though there are many global restrictions on sewage and chemical dumping, it still happens. The oceans are in rough shape, and these issues are only going to get worse if people, companies, organizations and governments do not take action.

However, there are factors to consider before plunging in.

Cleaning Up Done Right

If ocean cleanup is not done properly, it can negatively impact marine ecosystems. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s (BSEE) Rigs to Reef program found that fish and marine life were using oil and gas platforms as habitat, and when these rigs were decommissioned and removed, it harmed and disrupted the ecosystem.

Rigs to Reefs helped to transform oil and gas platforms so that they could actually offer a benefit to marine ecosystems. It now encourages the use of obsolete platforms as artificial reef material – as long as they meet strict requirements. With BSEE’s program, various marine species can adapt to and enjoy the artificial reefs as shelters and breeding grounds.

An artificial reef made of old industrial infrastructure. (Source: Rigs to Reef)

Other companies and groups are also taking action. For example, The Ocean Cleanup is a group focused on using the ocean’s natural currents for cleanup, and financing the project through philanthropic, commercial, and governmental donations and sponsorships.

POSCO’s Triton Project

POSCO is another company committed to sustainable, responsible practices when it comes to the environment, including the oceans. One of their major innovations, the Triton project has a direct, positive impact on the marine ecosystem of Korea’s South Sea and East Sea.

In conjunction with the Research Institute of Science and Technology (RIST) and the Korean government, POSCO has installed 510 artificial fish reefs made of “Triton” steel slag, made of  by-products of the iron and steelmaking processes. Triton is eco-friendly and low in carbon, and adds additional value to the steel manufacturing process by using up its wastes.

POSCO uses by-products from steel production to make Triton. (Source: Diproinduca)

Even better, Triton is naturally made with high percentages of iron and calcium, which work to create the ideal conditions for seaweed and algae spore growth, and purifies contaminated sediment. These reefs can also help reef populations migrate to cooler waters.

Triton reefs create a very healthy environment for marine life, and have helped to restore sea forests wherever they are installed. The sea plants that are thriving with Triton are decreasing carbon dioxide and creating a healthier ocean. Aside from the environment, the economies of surrounding countries are reaping the benefits. The commercial fishing industry is one of the first industries to benefit from a more robust local fish population.

An example of an artificial reef used to support plant growth

POSCO intends to continue building on the success of Triton, forging cooperative relationships to construct fishery resources. The next coral reef forest restoration is planned for Indonesia, and POSCO will continue to protect marine life globally.

Cleaning up the oceans is one of the greatest global environmental responsibilities of humanity. POSCO is one company leading the efforts to restore the environment through transformative technologies that take what was once considered waste and using it to create spaces that nurture life.

Cover photo courtesy of Rigs to Reef.

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