Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, has been selected by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to develop industrial decarbonisation roadmaps for sites across the UK as part of the Industry of Future programme. 

As engineering delivery partner, Atkins will work with up to 16 industrial sites to develop roadmaps and a plan of interventions that would help to accelerate their progress towards net zero emissions by 2050.

Ian L. Edwards, president and CEO, SNC-Lavalin said: “Industrial emissions are one of the most challenging areas to abate, yet they account for around a quarter of all global emissions. The industrial sector will be the backbone of a net zero transition (and) the identification of more ways to decarbonise processes and plants will be critical to achieving our climate goals.

“Our appointment to the UK’s Industry of Future programme reflects our knowledge of both engineering solutions and industrial process as well as our technology and capability to create viable net zero pathways for industry.” 

Atkins’ focus in the programme will be on energy intensive industrial sites classed as ‘hard to abate’, such as chemical plants and the paper and ceramics industries. The roadmaps will consider the most viable decarbonisation options for each individual site, including new technologies such as carbon capture utilisation and storage as well as feasibility of fuel switching, retrofits and upgrades, process changes and energy optimisation. The scoping studies will investigate various technologies and costs involved and Atkins will deploy its own technology and tools to help analyse carbon, cost and engineering solutions and identify the most cost-effective and pragmatic roadmaps for each industrial site.

Chris Ball, managing director for nuclear and power EMEA at Atkins, said: “To accelerate the rate of industrial decarbonisation, we need to test and implement a whole range of technology and tools, from proven solutions to trialling new equipment. Decarbonising industrial plants and processes is a complex challenge - there is no single approach that will work for all sites and sectors. 

“Robust, implementable roadmaps that consider both the engineering solutions and the cost viability of reaching net zero will be critical to achieve this and our work in the scoping studies will apply our expert knowledge in the field to identify the right mix of options to meet each individual site’s net zero goals.” 

Energy and climate change minister Greg Hands added: “These roadmaps will underpin our new Industry of Future programme. This will support industry to decarbonise faster, helping them slash emissions while also saving money on their energy bills.”

The Industry of Future programme competition is part of the UK government’s £1bn Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. It aims to increase the range of options available to industry to enable them to decarbonise at a faster rate. Industrial sites were able to apply for funding to develop industrial decarbonisation roadmaps, with initial funding used for scoping studies that include identification of optimal decarbonisation options and the development of their Net Zero industrial roadmap. In this phase of the programme, Atkins will deliver the identification of optimal decarbonisation options to inform future decisions.