A new titanium plant in West Virginia is making waves in the clean energy space thanks to its use of solar power.
According to Canary Media, the state-of-the-art Timet power plant in Ravenswood, West Virginia, could be the first industrial power plant to run predominantly on renewable energy. This is possible because BHE Renewables is building solar panels and a microgrid for battery storage nearby.
The Timet plant will take over the site of a former aluminium smelter that closed its doors in 2009. The move will further reduce the environmental impact of the project as the site is already developed for industrial use.
Titanium is an essential element of modern society. According to Canary Media, it is corrosion-resistant and extremely durable, allowing it to be used in a wide range of industrial and personal products, as well as many medical procedures such as hip replacements and dental implants.
However, melting titanium can take an incredible amount of energy because its melting point is 3,135 degrees Fahrenheit, according to United Performance Metals, making it hotter than steel (which melts at around 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit) or aluminum (which melts at around 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit).
If this energy could be generated solely from clean sources like solar, rather than relying on dirty fuels like coal, oil and natural gas, it would reduce the environmental impact of the industry immensely if implemented on a larger scale. While the process of producing metals would still be expensive, by using the solar microgrid in more locations, these costs could be offset and reduced significantly.
In addition, titanium is lighter than steel (and stronger relative to its weight) and generally stronger than aluminum. Additionally, manufacturing it closer to home in the U.S. would lower both the cost of transporting the material and ultimately the price of goods made from the metal to the consumer.
The Ravenswood power plant “demonstrates the ability of a microgrid to meet the needs of industrial customers,” said Dan Winters, vice president of communications and public relations at BHE Renewables, according to Canary Media. “This includes… providing renewable energy where and when it is needed and driving economic recovery through clean energy-based production.”
Operations are scheduled to begin in 2025 and are expected to reach full capacity by 2027.
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