NSG starts UK flat glass carbon capture trial

NSG Group has started a carbon capture trial at its Pilkington UK float glass facility.

The trial is part of a national project led by C-Capture and will take place on a float glass line at its Pilkington UK Greengate site in St Helens.

Following pre-installation commissioning at C-Capture, a carbon capture solvent compatibility unit (CCSCU) has been connected at the base of UK5 furnace chimney.

The unit is now separating CO₂ from the waste flue gas.

The trial at the Greengate site will continue for several months to assess the compatibility of C-Capture’s solvent-based technology with real-world flue gases from an industrial glassmaking furnace.

The trial forms part of the ‘XLR8 CCS – Accelerating the Deployment of a Low-Cost Carbon Capture Solution for Hard-to-Abate Industries’ project.

XLR8 CCS aims to demonstrate that a low-cost carbon capture solution is a reality for difficult-to-decarbonise industries in the race to net zero.

XLR8 CCS is funded by the UK Government’s Department of Energy Security and Net Zero with £1.7 million of funding secured from its £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.

The funding is part of the £20 million Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) Innovation 2.0 programme, aimed at accelerating the deployment of CCUS technology in the UK.

Additional private sector contributions support a £2.7 million total for this multi-industry project.

A further five carbon capture trials will take place across the UK as part of the XLR8 CCS project at industrial sites owned by project partners Glass Futures, Heidelberg Materials and Energy Works Hull – in conjunction with engineering company, Wood.

Carbon capture solvent compatibility units (CCSCUs) designed and built by C-Capture and Wood will be installed and operated on partners’ sites.

Wood has also completed a feasibility study into 100 tonnes a day application of C-Capture’s technology at the Greengate site.

Project success will see C-Capture and its project partners well placed for deployment of commercial-scale carbon capture facilities across the three industries by 2030 which could capture millions of tonnes of CO₂ per year.