18 February 2020: Innovative technologies that are being developed to reduce carbon emissions from industry are to receive government funding to help deliver the UK’s Clean Growth Strategy. Eight innovations will be supported in this second phase of the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS) Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA). These include a more efficient cooling technology for data centres – an area which is set to account for an increasing proportion of global carbon emissions - and a novel magnetically-geared motor for increased efficiency in waste processing.
The IEEA is funded through the UK government and managed by the Carbon Trust, with support from Jacobs Engineering. The programme assists partnerships between developers of innovative energy efficient technologies and industrial companies willing to test technologies on-site.
Industrial emissions are responsible for around one fifth of total UK carbon emissions and are difficult to reduce due to the intensity of energy required by industrial processes.[1] The Committee on Climate Change has highlighted the government’s ambition to enable businesses and industry to make a 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030 as critical to achieving the UK’s net zero target by 2050.[2]
The programme supports projects from all UK industry sectors that can demonstrate either a novel technology (targeting Technology Readiness Levels 5-8), or the use of an established technology in a novel way.
By demonstrating these technologies under operational conditions, the IEEA seeks to increase the likelihood of their wider adoption across the UK’s industrial sector, bolstering competitiveness, whilst reducing carbon emissions. Many of the technologies are also expected to have applications across industries worldwide, stimulating the export market for UK technology developers.
The £4.6 million of public grant funding awarded in phase two of the IEEA has already secured nearly £4.4 million in private sector match funding.
Over 60 projects were assessed and the successful phase two projects were selected based on energy saving potential and scalability. While projects are being demonstrated in specific sectors, many have wider industry applications.
The eight projects are:
- Ultrasonic technology to reduce the energy required for plastics manufacturing led by Matrix Moulding Systems with industrial demonstration partner Barkley Plastics.
- Low thermal mass technology for polymer manufacturing led by Surface Generation with industrial partner Tiflex.
- A novel magnetically-geared motor for increased efficiency in waste processing led by Magnomatics with industrial partners DonXtra (Donasonic), ELLGIA and ATB Group UK (Laurence-Scott).
- A highly efficient cooling technology for data centres led by University of Hull with industrial partners AIRCO and NPS Humber.
- An industrial waste water filtration system to allow recycling of heated wastewater in the industrial laundry sector by G2O Water Technologies with industrial partners Hydrasyst and Johnsons Textile Services.
- Low temperature animal by-product processing technology led by Agritec with industrial partner Edge Close Green Energy.
- An integrated advanced process control technology for the pulp, paper and board sector led by The Paper Industry Technical Association (PITA) and CF Procsim with industrial partners Smurfit Kappa Townsend Hook, AutomationX, and Perceptive Engineering.
- Low energy fertiliser production from wastewater led by CCm Technologies with industrial partner Severn Trent Water.
Demonstration sites for these eight technologies are located across the UK, supporting industry in regional centres and industrial clusters in the East and West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, the North East and North West of England.
Tom Delay CBE, chief executive, at the Carbon Trust, commented:
“We are excited to announce the second phase of IEEA projects which span a wide variety of innovations and sectors. These projects will help reduce the energy that is currently being lost in industrial processes due to inefficiency in equipment, mechanical limitations and heat loss. The IEEA has the potential to deliver significant carbon emissions reductions across the UK and support the long-term competitiveness of UK industry.”
Phase one of the IEEA awarded seven projects a share of £2.7 million, announced in January 2019.
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For further details please contact the Carbon Trust press office on press@carbontrust.com or alternatively call +44 (0) 20 7170 7050.
Further detail on the funded projects:
- Ultrasonic technology to reduce the energy required for plastics manufacturing led by Matrix Moulding Systems with industrial demonstration partner Barkley Plastics.
A retrofit solution using ultrasonic technology to enhance the flow of polymer liquid into a mould that reduces the energy required to heat the molten polymer in use, hold at pressure and then to cool after moulding. The project expects to demonstrate more than 13% electrical energy savings and reduced cycle times (increasing productivity) for typical injection moulding processes.
- Low thermal mass technology for polymer manufacturing led by Surface Generation with industrial partner Tiflex.
This innovative development of the PtFS process, eliminates conventional steam heating from traditional polymer production techniques; reducing electricity consumption by 70% and cycle times by 75% whilst delivering increased product quality. These combined efficiencies provide an 80% saving in carbon emissions. Once proven, the technology will lower the cost of entry beyond high value aerospace, automotive, medical, energy and consumer electronics applications.
- A novel magnetically-geared motor for increased efficiency in waste processing led by Magnomatics with industrial partners DonXtra (Donasonic), ELLGIA and ATB Group UK (Laurence-Scott).
A magnetically-geared motor applied to a shredder, processing waste to create solid recovered fuel, intended to displace inefficient gearboxes and pulley systems commonly used by industry. The demonstration will test the motor in a harsh operating environment, with high torque, speed fluctuations and vibration. It is hoped to demonstrate savings of approximately 16% compared with currently used IE3 motors equipped with gearboxes and pulleys.
- A highly efficient cooling technology for data centres led by University of Hull with industrial partners AIRCO and NPS Humber.
Demonstrating an innovative evaporative (dew point) cooler with highly enhanced coefficient of performance in data centres, intended to deliver substantial electricity savings. The project aims to save over 270MWh/yr of electricity energy at the demonstration site, amounting to overall electrical energy savings of over 90%.
- An industrial waste water filtration system to allow recycling of heated wastewater in the industrial laundry sector by G2O Water Technologies with industrial partners Hydrasyst and Johnsons Textile Services.
Installation of a NanoPulse system, which is an advanced filtration system using graphene-oxide coated ceramic membranes, which increases separation performance, delivering clean warm water back to the washfloor. This reduces the need for heating between wash cycles, reduces water consumption and reduces chemical additions. It is estimated that a typical laundry could generate energy savings of over 2,700 MWh per year and reduce water consumption by 31,000m3 per year.
- Low temperature animal by-product processing technology led by Agritec with industrial partner Edge Close Green Energy
Demonstration of a low temperature separation and processing technology at an animal by-product facility, compared to high temperature energy intensive processes that are traditionally used. The project hopes to demonstrate a 40% thermal energy reduction compared to traditional high temperature rendering processes, alongside an electrical energy reduction of nearly two-thirds.
- An integrated advanced process control technology for the pulp, paper and board sector led by The Paper Industry Technical Association (PITA) and CF Procsim with industrial partners Smurfit Kappa Townsend Hook, AutomationX, and Perceptive Engineering.
Demonstration of a novel ‘Simulation Aided Enhanced Advanced Process Control software in the drying section of a paper mill through simulation, and applied at a major UK paper-making operation. By anticipating process variations, the technology reduces the energy required by predicting more quickly and accurately what the end product moisture content will be, optimising control variables within the plant. It is anticipated that an energy saving of 5% or more of current consumption can be made at the demonstration site.
- Low energy fertiliser production from wastewater led by CCm Technologies with industrial partner Severn Trent Water.
A new method of extracting nutrients from wastewater (ammonia) to create fertiliser with a number of recovery processes including CO2 and waste heat from a combined heat and power plant. The project plans to demonstrate a 90% reduction in electrical energy compared to traditional nitrification processes at waste water treatment works, as well as producing fertiliser with a low specific energy requirement. This project has the potential for use in multiple sectors that use anaerobic digestion.
About the Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator
The IEEA is designed to support partnerships between developers of innovative energy efficient technologies and industrial companies willing to test technologies on-site. The programme is open to projects from all UK industry sectors that can demonstrate either a novel technology (targeting Technology Readiness Level 5-8), or the use of an established technology in a novel way.
The BEIS IEEA allows promising innovators to demonstrate their technology in an operational environment and increase confidence from potential users. The BEIS IEEA also provides forward-looking industrial companies with an opportunity to implement pioneering technologies with decreased risk and capital cost.
About BEIS
The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) brings together responsibilities for business, industrial strategy, science, innovation, energy, and climate change. The Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator is funded by the BEIS Energy Innovation Programme and further details can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-energy-efficiency-accelerator-ieea
About the Carbon Trust
Established in 2001, the Carbon Trust works with businesses, governments and institutions around the world, helping them contribute to, and benefit from, a more sustainable future through carbon reduction, resource efficiency strategies, and commercialising low carbon businesses, systems and technologies.
The Carbon Trust:
- works with corporates and governments, helping them to align their strategies with climate science and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement;
- provides expert advice and assurance, giving investors and financial institutions the confidence that green finance will have genuinely green outcomes; and
- supports the development of low carbon technologies and solutions, building the foundations for the energy system of the future.
Headquartered in London, the Carbon Trust has a global team of 200 staff, representing over 30 nationalities based across five continents.
[1] Progress in reducing UK emissions 2019, the Committee on Climate Change
[2] Progress in reducing UK emissions 2019, the Committee on Climate Change
