C-Capture Limited have been awarded funding through Innovate UK’s Sustainable Innovation Fund. The award will support experiments to quantify the compatibility of C-Capture’s carbon capture technology with the requirements of the glass manufacturing industry. C-Capture were supported in their application by UK glass manufacturer, Pilkington United Kingdom Limited (‘Pilkington’). The experiments will assess the feasibility of deploying carbon capture technology on site at Pilkington and are an important step forward in decarbonising glass manufacture.
C-Capture, based in Leeds, is developing what will be the world’s most energy efficient- processes for the capture of carbon dioxide. It has patented a unique, safe, low-cost carbon capture technology which uses up to 40% less energy than current commercially available technologies. The technology uses a new class of capture solvents that are amine and nitrogen free, are not classified as hazardous, are inexpensive, and could be manufactured on a large scale from biological sources.
Emissions from the glass manufacturing industry have traditionally posed technological challenges as they contain high levels of impurities that prevent the utilisation of existing technologies. During this project, C‑Capture will build upon existing data and expose the solvent to representative flue gases found during the glass manufacturing process, as the next step to prove the applicability of C‑Capture technology to capturing CO2 from heavy industrial waste gases.
By working alongside leading manufacturing companies like Pilkington who are striving to find technological solutions to decarbonise, C-Capture are optimising their technology to fulfil industry‑specific requirements.
By investing in infrastructure and projects which provide jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, companies can have a positive impact on climate change and environmental sustainability. This project is an example of how companies can work together, with government support, to enable the industrial sector to ‘build back better’ from the pandemic, create a more sustainable economy, and help deliver on the government’s Clean Growth and Industrial Strategies and net zero ambition.
Dr Helen Atkinson, C-Capture’s business development manager, said, “We are delighted to have been awarded this funding from Innovate UK, which will demonstrate the robust nature of C-Capture’s solvent, and its suitability for processes which have traditionally been considered difficult to decarbonise. We are very excited to be working alongside Pilkington, their support for this project demonstrates their commitment to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions”
Matt Buckley, Managing Director Pilkington United Kingdom Limited said, “Our Manufacturing and R & D functions are extremely pleased to be collaborating with C-Capture in the development of carbon capture solutions for our glass manufacturing process. We look forward to making further progress in this important and exciting field.”
Dr Ian Campbell, Innovate UK Executive Chair, said, “In these difficult times we have seen the best of British business innovation. The pandemic is not just a health emergency but one that impacts society and the economy.
“C-Capture’s project to demonstrate carbon capture capabilities for glass manufacturing alongside Pilkington, along with every initiative Innovate UK has supported through this fund, is an important step forward in driving sustainable economic development. Each one is also helping to realise the ambitions of hard-working people.