Swansea University College of Engineering E-Magazine

A CA L L FOR ENG I NE E R S

SAV I NG T H E WOR L D I N T I ME S OF C R I S I S

A CA L L FOR ENG I NE E R S

SAV I NG T H E WOR L D I N T I ME S OF C R I S I S

Supporting the development of Greener, Cleaner, Smarter Steel industry in the UK by Dr BeckyWaldram, SUSTAIN

AC T I V E OF F I C E

SUSTAIN’s overriding ambitions ? To develop systems for carbon neutral iron and steelmaking by 2040, to double steel GVA by 2030, and to implement world- leading intelligent infrastructure by 2030. It is a real privilege to be involved in the project, and to be playing a part in creating a sustainable future for the UK.

SUSTAIN’s Grand Challenges and Themes are great examples of the diverse range of knowledge and expertise required for an engineering project to succeed: Emissions Management and Utilisation How can we capture, store and utilise carbon from large point sources ? How can we separate carbon dioxide from other waste gases ? ZeroWaste Steelmaking How can we re-use domestic and industrial waste within the steel industry ? The UK currently exports around 10 million tonnes of scrap steel per year, can we recycle this locally ? Data Driven Innovation How can we better embrace the wider end-to-end supply chain ? Can we incorporate process modelling and fast-algorithm techniques to allow real-time simulations and predictions ? Smart Low Energy Production Can we re-use some of the energy generated in the steelmaking process? How can we use hydrogen to power a steel plant ? New Processes for New Products Can we monitor material microstructure during processing to develop new products and improve the efficiency of existing steel grades ?

Steel is all around us. It is used within, or in the manufacture of, virtually all of the essential equipment and products we use daily, from the transport we take, schools, workplaces and shops we visit, to the cutlery we eat with. Due to the energy requirements of the process, steelmaking is very carbon intensive. It is also very efficient and can create products at a higher rate and lower financial and energy cost than any other material we currently use. With the ongoing climate emergency, and the UK’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, it is vital we act now to decarbonise this crucial industry , an industry that enables our modern standard of living and supports many thousands of highly skilled manufacturing and supply chain jobs in the UK. The SUSTAIN project aims to deliver the cutting-edge science and engineering research required to create carbon neutral, resource efficient UK steel supply chains. We will enable UK manufacturing sectors to deliver world-leading resilient solutions for tomorrow’s transport, energy and building needs, whilst overcoming societal waste and energy challenges. The project is just entering its second year of work, and we are already contributing directly to industrial practices.

AC T I V E C L A S S ROOM

Active buildings that can generate, store and release their own solar energy

What areas? The SUSTAINHub includes staff, students and industrial partners with backgrounds in Materials and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science and Management, as well as those with a expertise in Foundation Industries and Sustainable Steelmaking Technologies.

ENG I NE E R I NG AT SWANS E A UN I V E R S I T Y

ENG I NE E R I NG AT SWANS E A UN I V E R S I T Y

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