Decarbonising Material Production with Advanced Digital Technologies

The manufacture of fundamental construction materials like cement, steel and glass represent 39% of global CO2 emissions each year, and this is set to grow at an astonishing rate in the coming years.

UK material manufacturers have the opportunity to exceed expectations on improving the environmental and social impact of their products and services. Ultimately, there is the possibility to create real value and a distinct competitive advantage by putting sustainability in the heart of their business strategy, pursue meaningful decarbonisation objectives and find the right tools to succeed.

Advanced digital technologies offer a variety of solutions to support these industries in reducing their environmental impact by decarbonising the material production process.

Digital Catapult, will be hosting an invite-only workshop, aimed at bringing together industry stakeholders, to discuss critical industrial challenges and to increase the understanding of the advanced technology capabilities for making the industry more sustainable.

The workshop will allow for discussion around the challenges to meet net zero ambitions, as well as focus on the feasibility of how technology could be deployed to yield the best results. We will also work towards a number of specific industrial challenges, aiming to identify solutions to support industrial partners in their journey to net zero.

These challenges include (but not limited to):

• Energy efficiency in manufacturing processes
• Understanding embedded carbon, material passports, digital twin and data transparency
• Decarbonising materials through digital technologies – “How to”

During the workshop, specific opportunities will be identified, with a short process analysis exercise will be undertaken to build the business case and identify the value of developing a solution.

All attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a future industry-led programme to address common challenges and benefit from the development of industry best practice cases to support the journey to net zero.

10:30 – Guests arrival and welcome coffee

11:00 – Welcome and introduction – David Pugh, Head of sustainability, Digital Catapult

11:10 – Keynote speech- CarbonRe (TBC)

11:30 – Keynote speech – (TBC)

11:50 – Q&A

12:00 – Lunch & Lab Tour (Immersive/ FNL)

12:40 – Focus area: Carbon accounting

13:00 – Focus area: Supply Chain Challenges

13:20 – Focus area: Energy intensive activities

13:40 – Focus area: Process optimisation

14:00 – Prioritisation of those challenges

14:15 – Sum up & Next steps

14:30 – End