Friday January 29 2021
Partnership with Origen Will See New Innovations in Sustainability
Birch Chemicals parent company, Singleton Birch has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility with a new partnership with Origen, an Oxford University spin-out, which will see new routes to zero carbon lime production explored.
The partnership aims to develop new kilns based on oxy-fuel flash calciner technology, which studies have found delivers a CO 2 separation efficiency theoretically close to 100%.
The multi-million pound project was revealed at the Waterline Summit, as part of a session led by Singleton Birch on Leading the UK to Net Zero Through Technological Innovation.
Birch Energy, one of the businesses that makes up the diverse Singleton Birch family, expects the pilot plant to be brought forward as early as 2022, according to Birch Energy Managing Director Martin Haworth. Haworth, an expert in lime production and kiln technology, stated, “We will build a pilot plant, planned for 2021, that will produce 3,000 tonnes a year.
“Once we have proved the process at the pilot plant, the next stage is going to be a 50,000 tonne a year kiln, and that’s already in design. There is a worldwide market for lime kilns that can produce zero carbon lime.”
Singleton Birch and Birch Chemicals has an award-winning reputation for innovation stretching back over 200 years, while Origen is a global leader in carbon removal technology. According to Director of Global Business Development at Birch Chemicals Steve Foster, the partnership promises to be a successful one.
Foster said, “The Singleton Birch family is dedicated to delivering best practice when it comes to sustainable development, and this is one more example of how we’re continuing to innovate.
“By combining Origen skilled design team and Singleton Birch’s own expertise, we’re excited about how this new innovation will change the future of worldwide lime production.”