A trial utilising technology to capture carbon emissions from British Steel’s Scunthorpe site has started.
The company has committed to transforming steel manufacturing into a “clean, green and sustainable business” by adopting electric arc furnace technology.
British Steel plans to close the two coke blast furnaces at the Scunthorpe steel works and was granted planning permission to build an electric arc furnace by North Lincolnshire Council earlier this year.
The company is in ongoing discussions with the Government about its decarbonisation plans. It maintains that “no final decisions” have been made on its future operations in Scunthorpe.
While the electrification of the steelmaking process is set to cut carbon dioxide emissions by over 75 per cent, the company is investigating ways to further reduce CO2e intensity. This includes developing technologies for capturing carbon dioxide produced by other aspects of its manufacturing operations.
In support of this, and the development of the necessary technology, a mobile carbon capture pilot plant has been set up at British Steel’s Central Power Station in Scunthorpe.
The plant, developed by the University of Sheffield, will be used to extract carbon from the power station’s boiler flue which will then be used to create synthetic transport fuels.
Dr Andy Trowsdale, head of research and development at British Steel, 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 is taking part in a broader University of Sheffield initiative that seeks to utilise waste gases from industries such as steel and glass production to create an alternative source of carbon for consumer goods.
The technology, known as FluRefin, was created by Professor Peter Styring and Dr George Dowson from the University of Sheffield, in collaboration with AESSEAL, a seal manufacturer based in Rotherham.
With the support of SUSTAIN, a research centre focused on future steel production, the university team has developed a carbon capture system that avoids the use of environmentally hazardous chemicals and is significantly more cost-effective and compact than other carbon capture technologies.
The CO2 captured at British Steel will be stored in gas cylinders and transported to the University of Sheffield, where it will be converted into synthetic transport fuels.
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 CO2e emissions.”
Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
