University projects are driving carbon reductions

Burning hydrogen to help run the Port Talbot Regen plant is just one of the joint carbon-reducing research projects under way with three universities.

Dr Charlie Dunnill from Swansea University is setting up a pilot plant to generate hydrogen from electrolysis as a zero-carbon fuel to reduce the amount of gas used at the site.

Environmental sustainability manager Iain Walpole said the small facility will be installed in spring next year.

“It is early days yet, but the work will look at if enough hydrogen can be produced, its cost and its behaviour when burned in the plant,” said Iain, who manages and co-ordinates university partnerships.

Meanwhile, projects with Cambridge and Reading are investigating further optimising the way the cement plants are operated.

“The Cambridge work involves analysing daily kiln performance to find ways to improve fuel efficiency, while the Reading team are looking at running the cement mills at different times to take advantage of electricity generated by nuclear, wind and solar rather than by fossil fuels,” said Iain.