IRAETA 97+ steel™: The Green, High-Performance Steel That Redefines Wind Power

We are living in times of change in the wind sector, and competitiveness, added value, sustainability, technical performance, and circularity are becoming key elements for our industry. What was once considered optimal is now being re-evaluated under tightening European compliance frameworks and increasing sustainability demands.

Today we are presenting what we have achieved: a steel combining superior technical and environmental performance — IRAETA 97+ steel ™.

With 97.76% recycled content and a fully scrap-based 100% EAF route, IRAETA 97+ steel ™ delivers high circularity, documented traceability, and verified performance at industrial scale. Its emission intensity is significantly lower than conventional blast furnace routes, structurally reducing carbon exposure under the evolving European regulatory framework.

A. IRAETA 97+ steel™ is not only green, but is also high performing.

The wind sector is entering a new era, we did our homework and are ready to go.

In 2026, the rules of the game have changed. Today, we no longer talk only about renewable energy; we talk about tangible value for the wind customer — about flanges and rings with extremely high performance, about emission traceability, about reducing CBAM impact with verified data, and about circular steel and concrete solutions tailored to each customer. We talk about guaranteeing precision, control, and traceability throughout the entire manufacturing process. Because being green means being green from start to finish — from raw material to critical wind components. Or, in other words, from IRAETA to GRI and to the wind sector in general.

The result of this green manufacturing is IRAETA 97+ steel™.

B. Key elements of IRAETA 97+ steel ™

● Technological route: 100% EAF with scrap as the main raw material, no blast furnace, combined with a fully integrated steel-to-forging-to-machining production flow.

● Circularity: 97.76% verified recycled content for wind flanges, certified under ISO 14021 (Bureau Veritas).

● Energy and emissions: Integration of ~40 MW of solar PV

● CBAM and Regulatory Carbon Exposure: verified data for wind flanges and components through Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) under ISO 14067, cradle-to-gate (A1–A3), in accordance with ISO 14067 and embedded emissions. IRAETA 97+ steel ™ delivers cradle-to-gate emission intensity approximately 60% lower than EU BF-BOF PCF references, based on method-aligned PCF-vs-PCF comparison, helping to reduce carbon exposure across European regulatory frameworks, including CBAM.

● Technical performance: steels with refined microstructural homogeneity through controlled modification with Ce, delivering greater low-temperature toughness and superior structural reliability.

● Green Cycle Loop: green manufacturing processes that reduce emissions primarily through efficient industrial processes and the use of recycled steel, rather than relying on offsets.

The value of IRAETA 97+ steel ™ translates into tangible environmental, economic, and technical benefits for wind customers, embodied in high-performance critical forged structural components such as flanges and rings, well above the industry average.

C. Tangible benefits of IRAETA 97+ steel ™

Flanges and rings for onshore and offshore wind towers, manufactured with IRAETA’s 97+ steel ™.

Significant reduction of embedded emissions in the flange compared with standard references based on PCF data, cradle-to-gate (A1–A3), in accordance with ISO 14067.

Lower CBAM impact for the customer: the use of verified data instead of default values may reduce CBAM certificate cost or quantity by up to approximately 87% compared with default-value scenarios, subject to HS/CN code, origin, and EUA price.

Ultimately, GRI Renewables Industries translates the environmental, technical, and economic advantages of IRAETA 97+ steel into value for concrete projects — into the solution each customer needs to build their wind tower. With a strong commitment to making technical purchasing easier and safer, and, most importantly, with the trust, credibility, and assurance of a leading company in the sector.

Because in this industry, reliability is non-negotiable.

D. Method & Scope:

*PCF calculated in accordance with ISO 14067, cradle-to-gate (A1–A3), using IPCC 2021. Comparisons are method-aligned (PCF-vs-PCF) and stage-consistent.

*CBAM statements refer to default-value versus actual-value scenarios and depend on HS/CN code, origin, and EUA price; evidence available upon request.

*Recycled content — 97.76% certified under ISO 14021 for continuous casting round billet steel ingot (period 2025; Bureau Veritas Certification, No. EMICN100800A).