Decarbonising industry

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The clock is ticking.
We need to make net-zero a reality for industry.
Our national scale R&D facilities bring low carbon energy technology to market quicker.
Decarbonising industrial processes, whilst retaining jobs.

This is the future.
And it will be Sheffield made.

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Making green industry a reality

Our national scale R&D facilities bring low-carbon energy technology to market quicker.

Without action to decarbonise industry the UK will not reach its goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Following the UK government's new target to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035, the need to decarbonise industry is clear. The challenge we face now is how to decarbonise industry whilst protecting and expanding economic potential.

The Energy Institute at the University of Sheffield is drawing on its world-leading expertise and internationally recognised testing facilities to tackle this challenge and make green industry a reality.

At the Energy Institute we understand the need to develop next generation technologies that are commercially viable as well as sustainable. We must decarbonise our industries in a way that enables them to compete on a global scale.

Mohamed Pourkashanian

Head of the Energy Institute and Member of the ISCF Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge Advisory Group

The visionary team at the University of Sheffield Energy Institute is driving the UK’s journey to net-zero. Our sustained investment in innovation and testing facilities makes us one of the largest and best equipped research and development hubs for low carbon energy solutions in Europe. Our strategy has been aligned with the Government’s ten point plan for a green industrial revolution, we are integral to achieving the levelling-up agenda and we reinforce the UK’s leading position in the global green energy market.

Mohamed Pourkashanian, Head of the Energy Institute and Member of the ISCF Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge Advisory Group, said:

"At the Energy Institute we understand the need to develop next generation technologies that are commercially viable as well as sustainable. We must decarbonise our industries in a way that enables them to compete on a global scale.

“Our national facilities such as the BEIS and ERDF funded Translational Energy Research Centre allow us to fast-track the development of a range of new low/zero-carbon energy technologies and fuels including CCUS, sustainable aviation fuels and hydrogen production and utilisation."

Together we can find solutions for a sustainable, prosperous future. To stay up to date with the latest world-changing advances from the University of Sheffield, sign up to receive our briefing.

Download a two page summary of our pioneering work to decarbonise industry (PDF, 2.7MB)

How we’re driving the green industrial revolution

H2H Saltend
H2H Saltend, one of the world’s first full-scale low-carbon hydrogen production plants, which will be the initial focus of the Zero Carbon Humber Partnership

Decarbonising the UK’s most polluting industrial cluster

The University of Sheffield is a key partner in a large-scale project to decarbonise the Humber industrial cluster, the largest regional source of industrial carbon dioxide carbon dioxide in the UK, emitting 12.4 million tonnes a year.

Decarbonising the Humber industrial cluster

Biomass power station

Moving away from fossil fuel based energy

The Energy Institute is working with Drax power station to understand how the gasification of biomass with carbon capture could be used to produce sustainable aviation fuels and hydrogen.

Moving towards sustainability

an aeroplane engine against a blue sky
The LITECS programme aims to enable the development of low emission engine designs.

Low carbon transport

We are removing the barriers to the adoption of low carbon, synthetic fuel to enable the aviation industry to meet climate goals. And for surface transport, we are investigating how different places can be rapidly switched to low carbon transport systems.

Meeting climate goals

Steel works

Decarbonising steel

Hydrogen is considered one of the best hopes for reducing the carbon footprint of steel. We’re investigating how the UK steel industry can be decarbonised within 30 years.

Decarbonising the steel industry

a wall of concrete

Sustainable cement

Cement production alone accounts for around 8% of global CO₂ emissions. Researchers at the Energy Institute are finding new, more sustainable ways to make cement.

Changing the building industry

Cropped shot of young Asian woman shopping for fresh organic red onions in supermarket. She is shopping with a cotton mesh eco bag and carries a variety of fruits and vegetables. Zero waste concept

Carbon neutral supply chains

Using data from the energy used by its ovens and mills, to the volume of fertiliser used on its farmers’ fields, our researchers have measured the resource efficiency and environmental impact of Hovis.

Making greener food networks

Glass production

Cleaner fuels, cleaner glass

Glass products feature in every part of our lives, from housing to broadband to food and drink. In order to make the manufacturing of glass a carbon-free process, our researchers are working with not-for-profit research and technology organisation Glass Futures.

Decarbonising the glass industry

Nuclear power cooling station

Advising governments of nuclear waste management

Two nuclear engineers from the Energy Institute are appointed to HM Government’s Advisory Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM).

We're at the heart of policy change

Facilities for translational research

the translational energy research centre

Translational Energy Research Centre

This new world-class testing facility will dramatically broaden the scope of the pilot-scale testing facilities currently available in the UK.

Translational Energy Research Centre

A researcher from the University of Sheffield AMRC

AMRC

The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is a network of world-leading research and innovation centres working with advanced manufacturing companies around the globe. 

Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC)

AMRC Nuclear

Nuclear AMRC

The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) is a collaboration of academic and industrial partners from across the nuclear supply chain.

Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC)

The outside of the Knowledge Transfer Centre building, a rectangular grey building with a car park.

Advanced Resource Efficiency Centre

Our Supply Chain Environmental Analysis Tools predict the relationship between climate change, political economy, innovation, life expectancy, population growth and energy use.

Advanced Resource Efficiency Centre (AREC)

Two bladeless wind turbine motors in the Siemens Gamesa training facility.

S2GRE Siemens Gamesa

The Siemens wind turbine generator R&D competence centre focuses on developing the most reliable, innovative and efficient wind turbine generators.

S2GRE Siemens Gamesa

Close-up of colourful wires

CREESA

The Centre for Research into Electrical Energy Storage and Applications (CREESA) hosts the UK's only research-led, large scale, energy storage test facility.

CREESA