ArcelorMittal has unveiled an innovative roofing product that combines steel roof panels, thermal insulation and solar cells, while also generating significantly lower CO2 emissions than conventional products. The new product line was inaugurated at the Contrisson site in France.
Ready-to-install and all-in-one, Helioroof modules are custom-made, up to 12 metres in length, with an energy output of up to 2.1 kWp (kilowatt peak) per module—a world record in both size and power.
Helioroof reflects ArcelorMittal Building Solutions’ commitment to sustainable construction. Material-efficient, the roof weighs half as much as a traditional roof with added solar panels, and has a carbon footprint that is 25% lower than traditional insulated steel roofs, the company says.
A low carbon solution
ArcelorMittal Building Solutions uses ArcelorMittal steel, including ArcelorMittal’s XCarb recycled and renewably produced steel. Between two steel sheets, the sandwich panel includes a layer which provides thermal insulation, while the top steel sheet directly integrates solar cells. All these components are assembled at the Contrisson site.
The company brought together its top expertise to develop and industrialise Helioroof, relying on the R&D teams of ArcelorMittal Building Solutions and its partner CRM Group (Belgium), a leading research centre specialising in metallic materials and industrial innovation.
The industrial equipment was custom-designed for the Contrisson plant: a highly automated production line where quality is monitored at every stage, with extremely high standards. ArcelorMittal Building Solutions teams have developed and applied specific expertise from the solar industry for Helioroof, including working in a 'grey room' environment to ensure the integrity of the solar cells.
Helioroof and its production process are protected by 15 patents filed by ArcelorMittal. The culmination of 5 years’ work, Helioroof is an innovative solution designed and produced in Europe, to meet the sustainability and performance demands of the European market, the company says.
Production of Helioroof has started in France
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on 9 October in Contrisson, France, Jean-Christophe Kennel, CEO of ArcelorMittal Building Solutions, said: “We have created a unique product that is already being used by customers here in France and across Europe.“ According to Kennel, these customers were the first to recognise the advantages of using Helioroof - with a carbon footprint that is more than a third lower than standard products, faster installation times, while also being cost competitive on a project basis.
Commercial production of Helioroof has now begun; the first customers’ projects deploying the solution account for a total 1,500 square metres of Helioroof, including an urban brewery in Liège, Belgium, and two industrial halls for metal construction companies and a family house in France.
Source: ArcelorMittal
