Low carbon hydrogen furnace ready to accelerate industrial fuel switching

A pioneering low-carbon furnace system has reached the final commissioning phase at the Materials Processing Institute (MPI) - marking a major step forward in the drive to decarbonise emission-intensive industrial processes.

The bespoke multi-fuel bogie hearth furnace, manufactured by Therser UK, can heat up to five tonnes of material and operate using hydrogen, hydrogen/natural gas blends, and other low-carbon fuels.

It is currently undergoing refractory drying at MPI’s Teesside site. It will then be available to industry as a pilot-scale demonstrator, supporting the scale-up and adoption of sustainable fuel switching technologies.

Image ©MPIUK

Operating at temperatures up to 1,300°C, the innovative furnace features advanced sensing and control systems that will provide vital operational data to inform investment decisions.

Terry Walsh, CEO of MPI, said: “This is a significant investment and a major milestone in supporting industry to accelerate the transition to more sustainable fuels. It offers a unique platform for testing, validating, and de-risking hydrogen and fuel switching technologies.”

The furnace complements MPI’s existing hydrogen storage and distribution infrastructure, as well as providing a flexible test bed for original equipment manufacturers and materials developers appraising components such as burners, sensors, and refractories.

The project has been funded by ECONOMISER 2, a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) programme being delivered by the Foundation Industry Sustainability Consortium (FISC).

For more information, visit www.mpiuk.com.