A new trial has begun and this trial will focus on using technology to capture carbon emissions from the boiler flue of British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant.

Whilst it is clear that electrification of the steelmaking process will reduce emissions of CO2 by more than 75%, British steel is also looking into alternative routes to reducing CO2e (CO2 equivalent) intensity even more. These different techniques involve the creation of technologies which are dedicated to capturing CO2 that has been generated by other parts of its manufacturing operations.

In order to support this project, along with the development of the necessary technology, a mobile carbon capture pilot plant has now been installed in Scunthorpe at British Steel’s Central Power Station.

The plan for this plant, which was developed by the University of Sheffield, is that it will be used to extract carbon from the power station’s boiler flue.

Professor Peter Styring and Dr George Dowson from the University of Sheffield in partnership with AESSEAL – the Rotherham-based seal manufacturer, are responsible for the creation of this innovative technology which has been named FluRefin. It has already been made clear that FlueRefin is a novel, award-winning carbon dioxide capture technology, which does not require heat or hazardous chemicals in order to operate efficiently. In place of heat or chemicals, the process uses a new-kind of pressure swing absorption process. This is a technique that is used to separate mixtures of gases and in the end, it produces purified and anhydrous (dry) carbon dioxide.

Along with support of SUSTAIN, which is the future steel manufacturing research hub, the University team have been able to successfully create a carbon capture system which avoids using environmentally hazardous chemicals and which is also much smaller and cheaper in comparison to other carbon capture technologies.

Once CO2 is captured, it is then bottled in gas cylinders and is transported back to the University of Sheffield. Once it reaches its destination, the CO2 will then be converted into synthetic transport fuels.

It has been made clear that British Steel’s involvement in this project is part of a wider project that has been put together by the University of Sheffield. The purpose of this project is to take the waste gases from manufacturing industries, such as steel and glass making, and make it possible for these gases to go into generating an alternative source of carbon for consumer products.

British Steel’s Head of Research and Development, Dr Andy Trowsdale, commented, “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.”

Professor of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at the University of Sheffield, Professor Peter Styring, added, "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."