Pilkington UK: Europe’s 1st carbon capture trial in flat glass industry

Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, part of the NSG Group, announced the successful launch of Europe’s first carbon capture trial in the flat glass industry, alongside partners C-Capture and Glass Futures.

On December 12, the project partners met at the Pilkington UK’s glass manufacturing site in St. Helens, UK, to see the carbon capture unit in action. The unit captures carbon from the float furnaces flue which, in the future, could then be stored or further utilised.

The trial forms part of C-Capture’s national project, “XLR8 CCS – Accelerating the Deployment of a Low-Cost Carbon Capture Solution for Hard-to-Abate Industries.” The project aims to demonstrate that a low-cost carbon capture solution is a reality for difficult-to-decarbonise industries in the race to net zero.

Beginning with glass production, XLR8 CCS will prove the ability of C-Capture’s innovative carbon capture technology to remove carbon dioxide from the flue gas emissions of three industries which are difficult-to-decarbonise but committed to reducing their carbon levels.

The compatibility of C-Capture’s proprietary solvent-based technology will be assessed with a further five carbon capture trials from next year at sites owned by project partners Glass Futures, Heidelberg Materials and Energy Works Hull – in conjunction with leading consulting and 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.

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.