An assessment conducted by E.ON, the University of Sheffield, and industry has identified significant footprint reductions through use of the emission-free fuel.
Focusing on steelmakers in Sheffield world’s famous sector, the research team found that combined firms could save around 3,500 tonnes of carbon emissions each year if they switch from natural gas to locally produced green hydrogen. This is equivalent to 40% of the city’s entire steel industry emissions.
Current measures suggest steelmaking is responsible for between 7 and 11% of global carbon emissions, and the project began when it became clear there was significant support from the industry for cleaner alternatives to natural gas. Researchers now say a move to green hydrogen is commercially viable and sustainable in the long term, without impact on performance or product quality.
Now awarded £1million in UK Government funding, those behind the work have begun exploring how green hydrogen from the nearby Blackburn Meadows renewable energy plant can be introduced to the area’s industrial supply chain. This will take into account logistics and transportation, storage, and other commercial and engineering needs. If successful, the concept could be applied to industry in more countries, and other energy-intensive sectors that require new fuel types.
‘We are thrilled that this project has received funding from the UK Government to progress to a second stage. The work we’re doing for this project at the University of Sheffield Energy Institute, including computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) modelling and in-depth hydrogen research, will help bring us a step closer to vital industrial decarbonisation and beyond,’ said Professor Mohamed Pourkashanian, Head of the University of Sheffield Energy Institute.
‘It is increasingly important to get the technological solutions we need to reduce emissions right first time, so carrying out these detailed and industry-supported projects at the University of Sheffield Energy Institute means we can test, scale and ultimately implement these alternative solutions as efficiently as possible,’ he continued.
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