Industrial Fuel Switching competition phase 3: successful projects
Updated 2 December 2022
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1. HyNet North West – industrial fuel switching
Led by Progressive Energy Ltd
This project will demonstrate the feasibility of switching several key industrial processes from natural gas to clean hydrogen as part of the wider HyNet project. Practical demonstration and experimental development of direct-firing, boiler, and refinery technologies will be delivered at NSG Pilkington’s Greengate Works (glass manufacturer), Unilever’s Port Sunlight plant (personal care, home care, and beauty products), and Essar Oil’s Stanlow Refinery.
Contract value: £5.24 million
Read HyNet Industrial Fuel Switching (Phase 3 report).
2. State-of-the-art fuel mix for UK cement production to test the path for net zero
Led by Mineral Productions Association
This project will investigate the potential for zero-carbon fuel sources such as biomass, hydrogen and electricity in cement production. Physical trials will be run to switch energy input from fossil fuels to cleaner fuels at two cement manufacturing sites. This could yield emissions savings up to 2 million tonnes of CO2 per year if implemented across the UK cement industry.
Contract value: £3.2 million
Read State of the art fuel mix for UK cement production to test the path for net zero (Phase 3 report).
3. Alternative fuel switching technologies for the glass sector
Led by Glass Futures Ltd
The project will evaluate the associated technical, economic and environmental aspects of electric, hydrogen, bio-fuel and hybrid-fuel melting technologies with the objective of designing a flexible demonstration scale glass furnace, capable of demonstrating and assessing these fuel-switching opportunities for the entire glass sector. This project involves multiple industry partners and will include a biodiesel trial on a full-scale commercial line and a large lab scale hydrogen demonstration. If successful, these low-carbon fuel technologies have the potential to remove up to 1.2 million tonnes CO2 emissions per year by 2030, totalling more than 20 million tonnes by 2050.
Contract value: £7.12 million
Read Alternative Fuel Switching Technologies for the Glass Sector (Phase 3 report).
4. Hydrogen alternatives to natural gas for calcium lime manufacturing
Led by British Lime Association (a product group within Mineral Products Association)
This project aims to use hydrogen as an alternative to natural gas for high calcium lime manufacturing, servicing diverse markets including iron and steel manufacturing. Hydrogen has not been used to manufacture high calcium lime anywhere in the world – the project will examine and demonstrate the suitability by reviewing the process design, safety, operational and environmental management and product quality.
Contract value: £2.82 million
Read Alternatives to Natural Gas for High Calcium Lime Manufacturing: Hydrogen (Phase 3 report).