Norway has lined up NOK 244 million ($25m) to support the establishment of a circular value chain in which steel from decommissioned ships is recovered and recertified for use in new buildings, Kallanish hears.
The money will be granted by state-owned development organisation Enova to the partners in the project, metals recycler Nordic Circles and processor company Alsaker Stål, part of Tertnes Holding.
“We know that buildings can be made using steel from ships because this has been tested in a number of pilot projects,” says Astrid Lilliestråle, director of technology and market development at Enova. “We are now supporting efforts to explore how new technology can make this commercially viable.”
Every year, 10 million tonnes of steel from European ships are scrapped, mainly in Asia, Enova notes. If successful, the new project could represent a significant industrial opportunity for Norway and Europe, the organisation says.
Enova estimates that recovering steel from decommissioned European ships could reduce emissions from European steel production by up to 17mt of CO₂ annually, provided that all the steel is used in new buildings.
“I am pleased that we can now use steel from old ships in new buildings. This could create new jobs in Norway and provide Europe’s steel industry with a local and reliable supply of steel,” says Norway’s Minister of Climate and Environment, Sigrun Aasland.
