Planning the future, using solar power – we are part of your #FavoriteMoments

Charge your e-car in front of your own door, create a pleasant room temperature in summer thanks to air conditioning and enjoy the heated pool even on cool days – we are part of your everyday #FavoriteMoments. Green solar power allows us to combine all this comfort with a sustainable future. Whether on facades, roofs and open spaces, between agricultural crops, above orchards or on carports: photovoltaic systems convert the sun’s energy supply into green electricity. And the photovoltaic industry is our customer worldwide, which we supply with our special profiles for the installation of PV systems.

The demand for green electricity is growing and PV systems are almost sprouting from the ground – but the locations where PV systems are used are much more diverse. Whether on flat roofs, on facades, above parking lots or on slopes: We supply internationally suitable substructures and complete systems for a wide range of photovoltaic applications. For example, the complete PV system “iFIX” is used on flat roofs at the German site in Schwäbisch Gmünd, while our mounting solutions from Krems ensure a secure hold even in difficult conditions such as snow or flooding. In Brazil, our Caxias do Sul site develops support structures for PV tracker systems.

Six voestalpine companies on three continents manufacture structures and components for solar power generation. Our steel components and mounting systems make it possible to generate green solar power worldwide

• voestalpine Sadef nv, specialist for open and closed steel sections according to customer requirements with headquarters in Hooglede (Gits) in Belgium.
• voestalpine Krems GmbH, European market leader in cold-rolled steel tubes and sections.
• voestalpine Roll Forming Corporation, with locations in Kentucky, Indiana and Pennsylvania, the voestalpine section and tube manufacturer in the USA.
• voestalpine Meincol S.A., Brazil’s leading manufacturer of special tubes and sections.
• voestalpine Automotive Components Schwäbisch Gmünd GmbH & Co. KG, specialist for photovoltaic substructures on flat roofs.
• voestalpine Profilform s.r.o., high-quality profile manufacturer with a focus on the construction and automotive industry in the heart of Europe in Vyškov (CZ).
• voestalpine Profilform (China) Co., Ltd., manufacturer of customized roll-formed tubes and profiles for the East Asian market, based in Suzhou, China.

• Brazil: We supplied around 12,000 tons of steel profiles for the Futura I solar complex, one of the country’s largest solar projects with almost 1.5 million solar panels covering 16.5 km² and with an output of 852 MWp (megawatt peak).
• Germany: The innovative flat roof mounting system ” iFIX ” can be installed quickly and without tools thanks to the smart click solution. iFIX” is used in particular for the numerous photovoltaic systems of our international companies – as well as for international customers.
• USA: We supplied high-strength steel profiles and mounting systems for several large solar parks in California.
• Spain: One of the largest photovoltaic power plants in Europe – the one in Extremadura with a total output of 100 MW – was supplied with special steel profiles and mounting systems that are responsible for the stability and durability of the plant. They are corrosion-resistant and suitable for use in various climatic conditions.
• India: We have also supplied steel components for various solar projects in India, which are also able to withstand the extreme local weather conditions.
• Australia: We were also involved in several solar projects in Australia with steel frames and mounting systems, including a large project in Queensland.
• Austria: Among other things, we equipped the PV system at Vienna-Schwechat Airport with around 200 tons of special profiles for the installation of an initial 55,000 panels.
• Netherlands, Belgium and Austria: The Overbetuwe solar park in the Netherlands with an installed capacity of 86 MW, the Kristal Solar Park in Belgium with a capacity of 100 MW and the Dürnrohr solar park in Austria with a capacity of 23 MW are all installed using the FastSlide system.

One example of practical innovation is the FastSlide fastening system from voestalpine Sadef nv in Belgium. Mike C. is Operational Manager at voestalpine Sadef nv in Belgium, which has been a reliable partner for the supply of support structures for solar modules for more than a decade. When Mike and his team deliver a substructure with “FastSlide” for a new photovoltaic system, they know: The final installation of the PV panels will proceed quickly and without any additional tools – in fact, around five times faster than usual. This saves up to a month of time, especially for large systems. In addition, the panels do not suffer micro-cracks when they move with the temperature and winds, and more solar panels can be used on the available surface area, as the “FastSlide” mounting profile reduces the distances between them. Substructures for PV systems with a total output of 4 GW have already been delivered.

One particular field of application for PV systems is agrivoltaics – the combined use of agricultural land for growing food and generating electricity. The PV panels are installed above orchards, for example, or vertically on open spaces that are used by tractors. The roofing created protects plants and fruit from extreme weather conditions, while farmers simultaneously generate solar power for their business. This saves resources, increases yields – and also reduces the carbon footprint. To enable this efficient use of land, suitable components and carrier systems are required, which our sites supply. Even areas that are difficult to develop can be transformed into high-yield photovoltaic fields with our complete systems.

In addition to agricultural land, other existing sealed surfaces can also be used to produce green electricity: Parking lots. Covered parking spaces at shopping centers, train stations or amusement parks protect vehicles from extreme weather conditions and ensure pleasant temperatures inside – ideal for a relaxing drive home after an eventful day. At the same time, these large areas offer ideal conditions for generating solar power, which can be used directly for e-vehicles and other services.