A trial using ‘ground-breaking technology’ to capture carbon emissions from British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant has started.
While electrification of the steelmaking process will reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by more than 75%, the company is exploring routes to provide further reductions in CO2e intensity. This includes the development of technologies for capturing CO2 generated by other parts of its manufacturing operations.
To support this, and the development of the required technology, a mobile carbon capture pilot plant has been installed at British Steel’s Central Power Station in Scunthorpe.
The plant has been developed by the University of Sheffield and will be used to extract carbon from the power station’s boiler flue.
''If [the trial] works for us, and others, it could be scaled-up and play an important role in carbon capture, utilisation and storage.''
Dr Andy Trowsdale, head of research and development, British Steel
Dr Andy Trowsdale, British Steel’s head of research and development, said: “This project is all about testing the capabilities of the technology. If it works for us, and others, it could be scaled-up and play an important role in carbon capture, utilisation and storage. The trial, which has been approved by the Environment Agency, will demonstrate the technology’s potential. We’re excited to be working with the University of Sheffield and supporting such vital research.”
British Steel’s involvement is part of a wider project by the University of Sheffield which aims to enable the use of waste gases from manufacturing industries like steel and glassmaking to generate an alternative source of carbon for consumer products.
The technology, which is called FluRefin, was developed by Professor Peter Styring and Dr George Dowson from the University of Sheffield in partnership with AESSEAL – the Rotherham-based seal manufacturer. FluRefin uses a novel pressure swing adsorption process – a technique used to separate some gas species from a mixture of gases. This produces purified and importantly, anhydrous (dry) carbon dioxide as the product.
With the support of SUSTAIN, a steel manufacturing research hub, the University team have created a carbon capture system that, claims British Steel, avoids the use of environmentally hazardous chemicals and is cheaper and smaller than other carbon capture technologies.
The CO2 captured at British Steel will be bottled in gas cylinders and transported back to the University of Sheffield where it will be converted into synthetic transport fuels.
''We are excited to get our next generation carbon dioxide capture and refining technology on site.''
Professor Peter Styring, professor of chemical engineering and chemistry, University of Sheffield
Professor Peter Styring, professor of chemical engineering and chemistry at the University of Sheffield, said: "We are excited to get our next generation carbon dioxide capture and refining technology on site. We look forward to being able to demonstrate a unique approach to further reducing British Steel's CO2 emissions."