� INTERVIEW �
Sawdust , bark , wood chips and shavings and waste wood sorted from municipal solid waste represent the feedstock that has the potential to be transformed into biocarbon . Photo : Eiliv Flakne
WAI : Ensuring a sustainable future by replacing fossil carbon with biocarbon
Even though there have been several technological advancements , most of the world ’ s steel is still produced in blast furnaces ( BFs ) resulting in over eight percent of greenhouse gas emissions . The statistic is sending us a very clear message : every solution that appears on the horizon should be fully embraced in order for us to meet our net zero goals .
Norway , well-known as the European renewable energy hub , has even more to offer in that regard . Through their Norwegian headquarters and the Chinese subsidiary , WAI Environmental Solutions ( WAI ) offers a cost-effective solution for metallurgical industries to meet their decarbonisation goals , in the form of biocarbon products . Aware of the challenges and professional risks , Mr . Steinar Danielsen , co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of WAI , and Dr . Gang Xin , co-founder , and Chief Technology Officer of WAI , are confidently following the path towards the end goal : making the world we live in a better place . Green Steel World gladly accepted the opportunity to sit down with Mr . Danielsen and Dr . Xin for an interview and to hear more about WAI ’ s vision of the industry as well as the company ’ s plans for the future .
By Lucija Kozina
The European steel industry contributes 1.3 % of the total European GDP ( 2021 data ) but also 8 % of the total CO 2 emissions . Large subsidies have been spent on the EU level as well as on national levels to help the industry decarbonise . Aside from grants , large funds and equity investors are contributing to this unprecedented industrial infrastructure transformation . Hydrogen and carbon capture and storage and utilization are considered the mainstream technologies for the decarbonisation of the steel industry today .
If we went back in time several hundred years , we would find out that the steel industry started by
28 Green Steel World | Issue 9 | November 2023