°®ÓÎÏ·Öйú¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾

What if the carbon dioxide (CO2) we usually think of as emissions could be turned into something valuable? The UK is taking significant strides in reducing carbon emissions through groundbreaking Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) projects.

CCU is a process that captures CO2 emissions from industrial sources and repurposes them for various applications instead of directly releasing them into the atmosphere. This innovative approach not only helps in reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also turns CO2 into useful products, such as building materials, chemicals, and even fuel.

Turning CO2 into a Valuable Resource

TATA Chemicals Europe’s (TCE) Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) plant in Northwich is a landmark achievement. As the first of its kind in the UK, this facility captures and purifies up to 40,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to taking 20,000 cars off the road. This CO2, captured from the flue gases of TCE’s Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant, is then converted into food and pharmaceutical-grade sodium bicarbonate.

This is not only a low-carbon product but also a critical component in medical treatments, particularly for kidney disease. By utilizing captured CO2, the CCU plant reduces emissions and secures a sustainable supply of a vital raw material.

Project MONET: Simplifying Carbon Capture with MOFs

Project MONET (MOF-based Negative Emissions Technology) is an initiative supported by a £445,848 grant from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), awarded to Promethean Particles for a groundbreaking carbon capture project, which uses metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), special materials known for their exceptional ability to capture CO2. Promethean’s manufacturing process makes it cost-effective to produce MOFs on a large scale.

This Project involves designing and building a fully-automated carbon capture unit that uses MOFs. This unit will be tested at Drax Group’s site in Selby, North Yorkshire, to see how well it captures CO2 from power plant emissions. The University of Nottingham will help assess the project’s overall impact and cost-effectiveness.

These pioneering initiatives illustrate the potential of CCU technology to significantly reduce industrial carbon emissions and contribute to net-zero goals.