German cold rolled steel specialist Waelzholz has discussed in podcast Steel to Zero – How Steel Goes Green how the steel industry is preparing for decarbonization and what the prerequisites are. Waelzholz Group Managing Director Mr Matthias Gierse said “Waelzholz is a family business with almost 200 years of history. It is important to us to be involved in the necessary transformation of the steel industry and to help make it a success. We would like to create transparency and awareness of the requirements of our industry.” Dr Matthew Gierse added “Taking social and corporate responsibility has been part of Waelzholz’s self-image for a good 200 years. We are clearly committed to our climate policy responsibility under the Paris Agreement and will do everything we can to make our products climate-neutral.” He also said “The first concrete steps have already been taken to reduce the carbon footprint of steel products, including at Waelzholz. The company relies on the increased use of renewable energies and continuous optimization of energy efficiency in the processes. 40% of the total electricity requirement at the German locations is already covered by renewable energies. But these are ultimately only intermediate steps on the way to the actual goal of climate neutrality. In addition to using renewable electricity, we have to switch our process gases from natural gas to hydrogen. Green hydrogen will be a key energy carrier of tomorrow. Dr Matthew Gierse said “The steel industry is ready. Waelzholz is ready. But all this is of no use to us if green hydrogen is not available at all and the infrastructure for its transport to us in South Westphalia is missing. The decision-makers in politics and administration must now create the framework conditions so that we can also take the path to green steel.” Waelzholz produces more than 780,000 tonnes of cold-rolled steel strips and profiles at its locations in Europe, North and South America and Asia every year. As a cold-roller, Waelzholz is in the steel value-added network between the crude steel manufacturers and the producers of end applications, and processes hot strip into tailor-made customer materials with special properties. Steel materials from Waelzholz can be found, among other things, in stator and rotor components for electric motors or in bipolar plates for fuel cells, which in turn are used in sustainable products such as electric vehicles, hydrogen-based drives or wind turbines.
German cold rolled steel specialist Waelzholz has discussed in podcast Steel to Zero – How Steel Goes Green how the steel industry is preparing for decarbonization and what the prerequisites are. Waelzholz Group Managing Director Mr Matthias Gierse said “Waelzholz is a family business with almost 200 years of history. It is important to us to be involved in the necessary transformation of the steel industry and to help make it a success. We would like to create transparency and awareness of the requirements of our industry.” Dr Matthew Gierse added “Taking social and corporate responsibility has been part of Waelzholz’s self-image for a good 200 years. We are clearly committed to our climate policy responsibility under the Paris Agreement and will do everything we can to make our products climate-neutral.” He also said “The first concrete steps have already been taken to reduce the carbon footprint of steel products, including at Waelzholz. The company relies on the increased use of renewable energies and continuous optimization of energy efficiency in the processes. 40% of the total electricity requirement at the German locations is already covered by renewable energies. But these are ultimately only intermediate steps on the way to the actual goal of climate neutrality. In addition to using renewable electricity, we have to switch our process gases from natural gas to hydrogen. Green hydrogen will be a key energy carrier of tomorrow. Dr Matthew Gierse said “The steel industry is ready. Waelzholz is ready. But all this is of no use to us if green hydrogen is not available at all and the infrastructure for its transport to us in South Westphalia is missing. The decision-makers in politics and administration must now create the framework conditions so that we can also take the path to green steel.” Waelzholz produces more than 780,000 tonnes of cold-rolled steel strips and profiles at its locations in Europe, North and South America and Asia every year. As a cold-roller, Waelzholz is in the steel value-added network between the crude steel manufacturers and the producers of end applications, and processes hot strip into tailor-made customer materials with special properties. Steel materials from Waelzholz can be found, among other things, in stator and rotor components for electric motors or in bipolar plates for fuel cells, which in turn are used in sustainable products such as electric vehicles, hydrogen-based drives or wind turbines.
