TransFIRe Hub concludes activities with lasting impact on UK foundation industries

The Transforming the Foundation Industries Research and Innovation Hub (TransFIRe) has concluded its activities after three years, having developed new materials, processes and practices in key industries. A new report published by the Hub highlights crucial areas of impact and innovation to bring the UK closer to net zero.

Through a comprehensive analysis of manufacturing processes within the six foundation industries, TransFIRe identified substantial opportunities for energy savings of up to 20% and CO₂ emissions reductions of 25% by implementing best practices. In collaboration with International Synergies, TransFIRe facilitated the exploration of over 350 industrial symbiosis opportunities, leading to the diversion of more than 10,000 tonnes of waste from landfill.

TransFIRe, which was funded by UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Transforming Foundation Industries (TFI) Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK, EPSRC and ESRC, brought together 12 research organisations, led by Cranfield University, with a focus on working closely with industry on interdisciplinary research projects. It has established more than 130 key partnerships across the foundation industries, which include cement, ceramics, bulk chemicals, glass, metals and paper.

The collaborations have driven and supported innovations which improve energy and resource efficiency through a range of projects, from extracting precious metals from electronic waste, to driving low carbon solutions for the cement industry.

Mark Jolly, Professor of Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing at Cranfield University, said, “The work of the TransFIRe Hub has left a lasting impact on the foundation industries through its incredible collaborative work. We’ve investigated new ways to transfer best practice in these industries, while also creating wholly new materials and process opportunities.

“We’ve also delivered true social value, working with communities to address their common challenges of competitiveness and sustainability and explore options to enhance their value creation potential.”

Key highlights of the TransFIRe Hub’s work include:

• Re-evaluation of mineral waste – Unlocking the hidden value of mineral waste in the UK through work with the British Geological Survey (BGS)
• Exploring low-carbon cement solutions – Advancing low-carbon solutions within the UK cement industry to reduce its carbon footprint, working with the University of Leeds
• New uses for electric arc by-products – Experts at Cardiff University working with Celsa Steel UK to analyse the by-products from its electric arc furnaces, exploring potential applications and solutions for recycling and reuse
• The Green Copper Refinery Project – A feasibility report on the UK’s first zero-emission copper foil plant was delivered by Cardiff University and Evolve Materials
• Turning e-waste into gold – Working closely with the Royal Mint, the TransFIRe team at Cardiff University partnered with Canadian clean tech start-up Excir, to explore the possibilities of extracting precious metals from electronic waste (e-waste), including gold

To learn more about the TransFIRe Hub’s work, click here to access a summary report which includes more details about the projects.