B08 · Wind Power & Storage

Stainless Steel Plates for Wind and Energy Storage: 316L/304 Selection and 7 Item Lists

In wind and energy storage, we have compiled seven stainless steel parts: commonly used 316L / 304 / 2205, with thickness ranging from 0.3–300 mm.

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7 Parts and Material List

Part / Component	Recommended Grade	Size / Thickness	Surface	Failure Modes	Reference Standards
Tower Cylinder Flanges/Connections	316L/2205/2507	Flange Thickness 50–300mm	Surface Finishing, Degreasing	High Alternating Loads → Fatigue Fracture, Marine Atmospheric Cl⁻ → Marine Corrosion, Main Failure Mode → Optimize Design, Tower Cylinder Bolts → Replace Bolts	GB/T 3280；NB/T 47008；EN 1090；DNV/ABS
Cylinder/Machine Fasteners	A4-70/A4-80/2205/2507	M8–M64	Degreasing/Treatment Coatings	Cl⁻ Pitting, Crevice Corrosion, Hydrogen Embrittlement, Fatigue	GB/T 3098.6；ISO 3506；EN 14399
Rungs/Platform Grids/Railings	304/316L	Grid 3–6mm; Handrail 1.5–3mm	2B/Slip Resistance	Marine Atmospheric and Splash Zone Corrosion	GB/T 3280；GB 4053.3
Yaw/Pitch Bearings	440C Surface Hardened Stainless Steel	Roller 10–50mm	Hardened and Polished	Contact Fatigue + Micro-Motion Wear + Corrosion	GB/T 308.1；GB/T 1220
Li-ion Steel Shell/Lid	304/316L(Preferred for LiFSI system)	Shell Wall 0.3–0.8mm	2B/Nickel Plated	Electrolyte Corrosion (316L is more corrosion-resistant than 304 in LiFSI systems) + Internal Short Circuit	GB/T 3280; GB/T 31467; OEM Specifications
Module End Plate/Connectors/Screws	304/316L/441	0.8–3.0mm	2B/Dielectric Coating	Electrolyte and Cooling Liquid Corrosion + Vibration Fatigue	GB/T 3280；GB/T 3098.6
Flow Battery Stack End Plates/Manifolds/Basins	316L/904L	2–10mm	2B/Acid Cleaning	Strong Acid/Alkaline Electrolyte Corrosion	GB/T 3280；ASTM A240

Inside isStandard ConfigurationMaterial selection

Consider usage conditions instead of grades

Here are the most common grades: 316L (5), 304 (3), 2205 (2).
Common sources of corrosion are chloride ions and salts (pitting, crevice corrosion) (2/7 hits).
Minimum thickness 0.3–300 mm: Thin plates are mostly formed parts (considering bend back and deep drawing cracking), thick plates are mostly welded structures (considering heat input and sensitization).

Common questions

Which stainless steel is used most in wind power and energy storage?

Out of the total 7 parts, 316L appears most frequently (5 times), followed by 304 (3 times) and 2205 (2 times). Specific to a part depends on the medium and temperature; for example, stainless steel countertops that come into contact with salt water should switch from 304 to 316L.

What parts are most prone to failure?

By failure description, typical is "Tower Flange/Connection for Offshore Wind Turbines": Marine atmosphere Cl⁻ + high cyclic loads → fatigue fracture of tower flanges; Recommended grades 316L/2205/2507, thickness range 50–300mm. For this type of condition, it's recommended to specify media concentration, temperature, and cleaning methods in the design phase.

What thickness should I choose?

The thickness range in the list is 0.3–300 mm. Thin plates consider forming and surface quality, thick plates consider welding and structural strength; different manufacturers may have different values for the same part, review your drawings or conditions to confirm.

Related materials and adjacent industries

2205Material and specifications 316LMaterial and specifications 304Material and specifications Buildings and InfrastructureConstruction & Infrastructure Power and Heat Production and Supply (including FGD Flue Gas Desulfurization)Power & Energy (incl. FGD)Gas Production and Supply IndustryGas Supply

Applications7

Thickness0.3–300mm

Grades300