InfraBuild’s role in powering Australia’s renewable future

A message from our CEO

Australia stands at a turning point in its energy transition, with 140 renewable energy projects worth $36.5 billion under construction. As we invest in wind, solar, and storage, the backbone of these projects isn’t just innovative technology, it’s steel that ties the whole system together and InfraBuild is at the heart of this story.

Our steel products reinforce wind tower bases, anchor transmission infrastructure, and build the structural frames of solar farms. Simply put, there is no renewable revolution in Australia without strong, reliable, and sustainable steel.

Sustainable steelmaking: Leading the way

What sets InfraBuild apart is its commitment to lower embodied carbon steelmaking. InfraBuild operates electric arc furnaces (EAFs) in Victoria and New South Wales, capable of producing about 1.4 million tonnes of steel each year. Compared to traditional coal-fired blast furnaces, EAFs use scrap steel and electricity. This method can cut greenhouse gas emissions significantly, a crucial step as Australia aims for net zero.

InfraBuild’s shift to a quarter of its power NSW operations from renewable electricity further reduces the carbon intensity of its products made at these sites. In a sector often criticised for emissions, this is commitment in action, not just aspiration.

But sustainability isn’t just about clean power it’s also about resourcefulness. InfraBuild has built one of the nation’s largest steel recycling systems, collecting and processing scrap from construction sites, industry and households. This circular economy approach means the steel going into Australia’s next generation of clean infrastructure may have had several previous lives. Old becomes new, and infrastructure is rebuilt without endless extraction from the earth.

Building tomorrow’s grid from yesterday’s steel

Australia’s power grid is evolving. As older power stations and wind farms reach end of life, InfraBuild stands ready to recycle their steel and channel it into the infrastructure of tomorrow.

This is steel circularity in action. Every time old steel is given new life in the backbone of renewable energy infrastructure, we keep materials in use and waste out of landfills.

InfraBuild’s ability to take the steel from decommissioned energy assets and feed it back into the supply chain is unmatched. The company closes the loop, turning a linear system of “make-use-discard” into a circular, sustainable cycle. Steel produced and recycled here, powered increasingly by renewables, delivers infrastructure for a cleaner Australia.

The power of local manufacturing

The renewable energy shift isn’t just about carbon emissions it’s about economic independence and resilience. Recent moves by the Western Australian Government, such as a $25 million investment in local manufacturing for the energy sector, signal a strong commitment to Australian industry. InfraBuild applauds these moves and is ready to partner and support in these efforts.

Local manufacturing delivers multiple benefits: Australian jobs, a resilient supply chain less reliant on overseas suppliers, and products designed for our unique environment. InfraBuild’s decades of experience mean it delivers not only finished steel products, but also deep expertise in how best to serve Australia’s energy needs.

Looking ahead

Australia’s renewable transition is a story of new energy and new partnerships. InfraBuild, with its sustainable steelmaking, robust recycling networks, and unwavering support for local manufacturing, is a linchpin in this effort. As the demand for renewable infrastructure accelerates, InfraBuild is well-equipped by experience, capability, and vision to deliver what the nation needs.

With every wind tower, solar array, and transmission line, InfraBuild enables Australia’s path to a lower-carbon future. If we want a nation both stronger and greener, we must value the Australian steel that holds our ambitions together. InfraBuild is not just part of the renewable transition it is helping to build it, one recycled beam and reinforced foundation at a time.

All the best and stay safe, 

Francisco