Energy

New & Expanding Demand For Steel In Energy

The energy sector is expected to be a strong source of steel demand over the next 10 years, particularly as the nation’s energy infrastructure is further developed.

Potential steel demand in new and expanding energy markets:

• An estimated 40 metric tons/MW for steel intensity in the nuclear market
• Projections for steel demand if wind power reaches 6% of the U.S. energy supply by 2020 is for as much as 13 million tons of steel.
• The average high-voltage transmission tower includes about 40,000-60,000 pounds of steel.
• Transmission wire contains steel.  For a 1455 ACSR, weight per 1,000 ft. is approximately 1,600 lbs., with the weight from steel at 270 lbs.  Demand is growing for electrical steels to serve this market.
• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently released a report titled “20 Percent Wind Energy by 2030.”  The DOE identified in this report transmission limitations as a chief roadblock to realizing the enormous economic, environmental and energy security benefits of obtaining 20% of our electricity from the wind.
• The production of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation produces a clean-burning, domestic energy source in an environmentally sound manner. Natural gas producers already invested more than $4 billion in Pennsylvania in lease and land acquisition, new well drilling, infrastructure development and community partnerships, with an even greater investment expected in the future