Tackling climate change is a global and national priority. If we fail to address it, the effects will have far-reaching consequences for all of us. As we respond to both the causes and effects to secure a sustainable environment and society, there is real potential for the UK to seize valuable economic benefits, maximising the wealth generated by green technologies. The HVM Catapult is working with businesses across the UK to enable product and process developments that support their success while leading the way to a net zero world.
Green energy is the foundation of net zero, powering our lives and the economy while protecting the environment. We are driving emissions down by helping the country embrace nuclear, hydrogen and renewable energy.
CASE STUDY
Creating jobs in nuclear energy
Nuclear is an obvious answer, but lead times are lengthy and the financing challenges for large reactors are formidable.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
End-to-end hydrogen – supporting critical infrastructure
Hydrogen is a powerful fuel source that has the potential to revolutionise a number of sectors, including transport. With almost zero carbon emissions and a high energy density, this abundant gas promises to be a key element of delivering net zero whilst satisfying the increasing national need for energy.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Environmentally friendly solution for wind turbine installation
With funding from the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership, the NCC worked with Cedeco to develop an early-stage concept for a composite gripper, which would hold an offshore wind turbine leg in place without so much need for environmentally invasive reinforcement.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Smart robotics makes magnet placement 60 times faster
Sheffield-based magnetic gear technology company Magnomatics wanted to explore how robotic technologies can optimise manufacturing processes and drive big productivity improvements for its wind turbine generators.
3 February 2022
An estimated 20% of all the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions come from heating the places we live and work. The HVM Catapult is driving action in this area to help reach national emissions targets.
CASE STUDY
Smart, sustainable homes for the future
An estimated 345,000 homes need to be built in the UK each year to meet demand. To reach the Government’s target of net zero by 2050, each of them will need to have impeccable green credentials. Achieving this requires examining radical solutions.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Seismic II takes schools to the next level
Large public works, like schools and hospitals, are increasingly benefitting from the faster delivery of modern methods of construction, such as modular building. The catch is that there are many platforms for modular structures that can prove incompatible, leading to potential waste and increased cost.
3 February 2022
Transport is the single biggest source of UK territorial carbon emissions. We are helping to change this by both cutting emissions from conventional vehicles and driving net zero transport solutions forwards.
CASE STUDY
Lightweighting the iconic Ford Transit
With over 30kgs saved from every production vehicle in this area alone, the next Ford Transit will be a lighter, more fuel-efficient van with lower emissions.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Key role in Driving the Electric Revolution
The UK is planning to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with 78% of the reduction in carbon emissions planned for 2035. Such an ambitious target calls for radical restructuring of all forms of transport.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Lightweight battery concept drives down emissions
The new concept is not only highly cost effective and sustainable but is now ready for transformation into an industry demonstrator.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Magway cuts costs with sustainable bio-composite
The growth in online shopping has exploded in the past decade and with COVID-19 as a backdrop, the one-click delivery of household goods is not only convenient, it’s also safer.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Metal additive manufacturing for lightweight helicopter parts
A process design and topology optimisation study was undertaken, beginning with a baseline stress analysis for a current machined-from-solid AlSi10Mg aluminium alloy handle, in order to evaluate different AM handle designs and also a hollow handle, indicating weight savings of between 20% and 45% were possible.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Revolutionising the rail industry with augmented reality
The system monitors real-time performance of station services, allowing swift detection and repair of faults within the station’s lifts, escalators and travelators, as well as signalling equipment along the high-speed line.
3 February 2022
Transport is the single biggest source of UK territorial carbon emissions. We are helping to change this by both cutting emissions from conventional vehicles and driving net zero transport solutions forwards.
CASE STUDY
As the lead on industrial processes, the HVM Catapult has identified the key areas that should be of global focus: net zero design and make; and tracking emissions throughout manufacturing supply chains.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Saving tonnes of carbon in nuclear welding
Welding the thick-walled steel sections of a reactor pressure vessel is an extremely time-consuming task, with each join taking around ten days to complete and releasing tonnes of carbon.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Waste slate turned into roof tiles
The MTC team modelled the full production process of Carapace’s tiles, identifying crucial areas of improvement at each step. By moving to a system of easily interchangeable tooling, they were able to slash downtime for retooling to 10 minutes.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Go with the flow – saving material and time with a forging alternative
Forging may be considered the ‘gold standard’ of production methods for high pressure and high temperature sectors but it can mean material wastage of up to 80%.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
The robotic system is powered by Recycleye Vision – a world-leading AI computer vision system which detects all items on waste streams by material, item, and even brand.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Developing the next generation of sustainable composites
At the moment, however, 85% of composites are neither reused nor recycled at the end of their life. Instead, the materials end up in landfill, adding to the world’s growing refuse problem.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Developing premium sustainable bio-packaging
Packaging matters in every sector, With over two megatons of plastic packaging waste in the UK each year, a more sustainable alternative is sorely needed.
3 February 2022
Reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and hitting 78% reduction from 1990 levels by 2035, is a challenge requiring coordinated effort across the UK.
CASE STUDY
Creating jobs in nuclear energy
Nuclear is an obvious answer, but lead times are lengthy and the financing challenges for large reactors are formidable.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Developing the next generation of sustainable composites
At the moment, however, 85% of composites are neither reused nor recycled at the end of their life. Instead, the materials end up in landfill, adding to the world’s growing refuse problem.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Enabling Jaguar Land Rover’s successful transition to electric vehicles
The international automotive market is experiencing unprecedented levels of change. WMG’s insights are crucial to the industry, allowing companies to accelerate the decarbonisation of their production vehicles.
25 November 2021
CASE STUDY
End-to-end hydrogen – supporting critical infrastructure
Hydrogen is a powerful fuel source that has the potential to revolutionise a number of sectors, including transport. With almost zero carbon emissions and a high energy density, this abundant gas promises to be a key element of delivering net zero whilst satisfying the increasing national need for energy.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Environmentally friendly solution for wind turbine installation
With funding from the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership, the NCC worked with Cedeco to develop an early-stage concept for a composite gripper, which would hold an offshore wind turbine leg in place without so much need for environmentally invasive reinforcement.
3 February 2022
CASE STUDY
Go with the flow – saving material and time with a forging alternative
Forging may be considered the ‘gold standard’ of production methods for high pressure and high temperature sectors but it can mean material wastage of up to 80%.
3 February 2022