One way to start the industrial decarbonisation journey

Rapid change is required by all sectors of society and industry to meet obligations to the global climate emergency. Legislation targets net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045 and interim targets requiring reductions of 75% by 2030 and 90% by 2040.

These targets present major challenges, the first of which is just 8 years away. With reference to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme for Energy Intensive users, cover traditional heavy industries, including Metals, Cement and Glass. By referencing case studies in each of these industries, the potential for an In-furnace Thermal Survey to reduce specific energy and CO2 will be presented. Improving yield (reducing scrap/waste) is the first step combined with reducing energy and CO2. The 300,000 to ~3,000,000 continuous optical radiometric temperature measurements allow optimisation of the process and validate computer models and digital twins. Only by understanding the true starting point can the journey to decarbonisation commence and stand a chance of reaching the ultimate destination.

These high-definition thermal imagers have been used to optimise Steam Methane Reforming, a traditional method to generate grey Hydrogen and potentially Blue Hydrogen, a key part of Decarbonisation path. Recent deployments have been used to optimise Waste to Energy, biomass combustion, and the generation of biogas via gasification of renewable sources. With green Hydrogen demand predicted to increase for transportation (road freight) and balancing of the electricity grid, there is an opportunity to utilise the Waste Oxygen [WOx] (a by-product of electrolysis). O2 enhanced combustion enables the transition to renewable biofuels as, without it, combustion temperatures are insufficient in many furnace processes. Whilst too soon to plan the whole journey, these case studies offer tangible starting points to decarbonisation.