Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | EP/V011804/1 | |
| Title | UKRI Interdisciplinary Centre for CircularMetal | |
| Status | Started | |
| Energy Categories | Energy Efficiency(Other) 20%; Not Energy Related 80%; |
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| Research Types | Basic and strategic applied research 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials) 50%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 50%; |
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| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Professor Z Fan No email address given Ctr for Advanced Solidification Tech Brunel University |
|
| Award Type | Standard | |
| Funding Source | EPSRC | |
| Start Date | 01 January 2021 | |
| End Date | 31 December 2024 | |
| Duration | 48 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £4,437,440 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Manufacturing; Transport Systems and Vehicles | |
| Region | London | |
| Programme | SPF NICER Programme | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Professor Z Fan , Ctr for Advanced Solidification Tech, Brunel University (99.984%) |
| Other Investigator | Professor M Miodownik , Mechanical Engineering, University College London (0.001%) Dr C Davis , Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham (0.001%) Professor GM Scamans , Ctr for Advanced Solidification Tech, Brunel University (0.001%) Dr Z Li , Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick (0.001%) Professor J Godsell , Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick (0.001%) Professor G Montana , Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick (0.001%) Professor R Bleischwitz , Bartlett Sch of Env, Energy & Resources, University College London (0.001%) Dr A Calzadilla , Bartlett Sch of Env, Energy & Resources, University College London (0.001%) Dr R Hall , The Warwick Manufacturing Grou, University of Warwick (0.001%) Dr CL Mendis , Inst of Materials & Manufacturing: BCAS, Brunel University (0.001%) Professor IT Chang , Inst of Materials & Manufacturing: BCAS, Brunel University (0.001%) Dr JB Patel , BCAST, Brunel University (0.001%) Professor B Cantor , BCAST, Brunel University (0.001%) Dr F Ceschin , Brunel Design School, Brunel University (0.001%) Professor D Harrison , Brunel Design School, Brunel University (0.001%) Professor Z Wang , Computer Science, Brunel University (0.001%) |
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| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , Oakdene Hollins Ltd (0.000%) Project Contact , Innoval Technology Ltd (0.000%) Project Contact , DSTL - Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (0.000%) Project Contact , Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China (0.000%) Project Contact , Aeromet International plc (0.000%) Project Contact , The Manufacturing Technology Centre: MTC (0.000%) Project Contact , GKN Aerospace (0.000%) Project Contact , Tata Steel, India (0.000%) Project Contact , WRAP (0.000%) Project Contact , Tata Steel UK Limited (0.000%) Project Contact , Constellium, The Netherlands (0.000%) Project Contact , Knowledge Transfer Networks KTN (0.000%) Project Contact , Pinsent Masons LLP (0.000%) Project Contact , British Steel Ltd (0.000%) Project Contact , Liberty Steel UK (0.000%) Project Contact , Aluminium Federation Ltd (0.000%) Project Contact , CROWN Technology (0.000%) Project Contact , Chinalco Materials Application Research (0.000%) Project Contact , Circular Economy Club (0.000%) Project Contact , Coca-Cola European Partners (0.000%) Project Contact , GEFCO UK Ltd (0.000%) Project Contact , Giraffe Innovation Ltd (0.000%) Project Contact , MQP Limited (0.000%) Project Contact , Materials Processing Institute (MPI) (0.000%) Project Contact , Metal Packaging Manufacturers Associatio (0.000%) Project Contact , Recycling Lives (0.000%) Project Contact , Supply Dynamics (0.000%) Project Contact , UK Metals Council (0.000%) |
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| Web Site | ||
| Objectives | ||
| Abstract | Historically, the discovery, development and application of metals have set the pace for the evolution of human civilisation, driven the way that people live, and shaped our modern societies. Today, metals are the backbone of the global manufacturing industry and the fuel for economic growth. In the UK, the metals industry comprises 11,100 companies, employs 230,000 people, directly contributes 10.7bn to the UK GDP, and indirectly supports a further 750,000 employees and underpins some 200bn of UK GDP. As a foundation industry, it underpins the competitive position of every industrial sector, including aerospace, automotive, construction, electronics, defence and general engineering. However, extraction and processing of metals are very energy intensive and cause severe environmental damage: the extraction of seven major metals (Fe, Al, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni and Zn) accounts for 15% of the global primary energy demand and 12% of the global GHG emission. In addition, metals can in theory be recycled infinitely without degradation, saving enormous amounts of energy and CO2 emission. For instance, compared with the extraction route, recycling of steel saves 85% of energy, 86% GHG emission, 40% water consumption and 76% water pollution. Moreover, metals are closely associated with resource scarcity and supply security, and this is particularly true for the UK, which relies almost 100% on the import of metals.The grand challenge facing the entire world is decoupling economic growth from environmental damage, in which metals have a critical role to play. Our vision is full metal circulation, in which the global demand for metallic materials will be met by the circulation of secondary metals through reduce, reuse, remanufacture (including repair and cascade), recycling and recovery. Full metal circulation represents a paradigm shift for metallurgical science, manufacturing technology and the industrial landscape, and more importantly will change completely the way we use natural resources. Full metal circulation means no more mining, no more metal extraction, and no more primary metals. We will make the best use of the metals that we already have.We propose to establish an Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre, CircularMetal, to accelerate the transition from the current largely take-make-waste linear economy to full metal circulation. Our ambition is to make the UK the first country to realise full metal circulation (at least for the high-volume metals) by 2050. This will form an integral part of the government's efforts to double resource productivity and realise Net Zero by 2050. We have assembled a truly interdisciplinary academic team with a wide range of academic expertise, and a strong industrial consortium involving the full metals supply chain with a high level of financial support. We will conduct macro-economic analysis of metal flow to identify circularity gaps in the metals industry and to develop pathways, policies and regulations to bridge them; we will develop circular product design principles, circular business models and circular supply chain strategies to facilitate the transition to full metal circulation; we will develop circular alloys and circular manufacturing technologies to enable the transition to full metal circulation; and we will engage actively with the wider academic and industrial communities, policy makers and the general public to deliver the widest possible impact of full metal circulation. The CircularMetal centre will provide the capability and pathways to eliminate the need for metal extraction, and the estimated accumulative economic contribution to the UK could be over 100bn in the next 10 years. | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 03/11/21 | |
