The University of Sheffield’s Energy Innovation Centre has partnered with local start-up Suiso on a three-month pilot study to demonstrate its innovative gas decarbonisation technology.
The project will research and develop Suiso’s breakthrough pyrolysis technology, which removes carbon from commonly-used fuels – natural gas, LPG, propane and biogas – before they are burned, with the potential to reduce or ultimately eliminate their CO2 emissions.
As this technology can be integrated with an existing natural gas supply, this groundbreaking study has the potential to enable factories, hospitals and other sectors that rely on natural gas to significantly cut their carbon emissions cost-effectively and without the need to replace their current systems.
In the three-month trial, Suiso will remove CO2 from natural gas blends in the form of a solid carbon powder, which has the potential to be used in water treatment, air purification and batteries. Researchers will then compare how the EIC’s pilot-scale furnace performs with this zero-carbon fuel compared to conventional gas.
The trial is particularly exciting for South Yorkshire’s many foundries, which rely heavily on gas furnaces and kilns that are difficult to decarbonise, and for SMEs, who produce around half of the UK’s CO2 emissions but struggle to find affordable ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
The University’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) will also collaborate in this work, providing support and industrially representative casting items for testing. The AMRC was instrumental in building the University’s initial relationship with Suiso and ensuring their technology reaches its full potential through the most appropriate expertise and facilities.
In connecting Suiso with the EIC’s specialised hydrogen capabilities, the AMRC continues to play a vital role in advancing industrial decarbonisation and strengthening cleantech innovation within South Yorkshire.
Stuart McKnight, CEO of Suiso, said: “The use of the EIC’s first class testing facilities will allow Suiso to demonstrate carbon removal pre-combustion for gas fired processes in industrial environments. Suiso has been told by many companies that they cannot afford to electrify their heating processes and have no prospect of getting clean hydrogen at affordable prices any time soon. Thanks to the support of the EIC and the AMRC, Suiso will be able to show these companies an affordable decarbonisation solution that they can implement now.”
Professor Mohamed Pourkashanian OBE, Managing Director of the University of Sheffield’s Energy Innovation Centre, said: “We are excited to partner with Suiso on what could be a groundbreaking decarbonisation technology. This pilot project perfectly aligns with our mission to drive real-world energy innovation and help industries de-risk the transition to net-zero emissions. Suiso’s system could offer a practical and timely solution for a significant portion of industrial emitters, and we look forward to working together to demonstrate its impact.”
