A state-of-the-art low-carbon furnace designed to support industrial decarbonisation has entered its final commissioning phase at the Materials Processing Institute (MPI) in Teesside.
The bespoke multi-fuel bogie hearth furnace, manufactured by Therser UK, is capable of heating up to five tonnes of material and operating at temperatures of up to 1300°C. It can run on hydrogen, hydrogen/natural gas blends, and other low-carbon fuels, offering a flexible platform for testing alternative energy sources in high-temperature processes.
Currently undergoing refractory drying, the furnace will soon be available as a pilot-scale demonstrator, enabling industries to trial fuel switching technologies and scale them up with reduced risk.
“This is a significant investment and a major milestone in supporting industry to accelerate the transition to more sustainable fuels,” said Terry Walsh, CEO of the Materials Processing Institute. “It offers a unique platform for testing, validating, and de-risking hydrogen and fuel switching technologies.”
Equipped with advanced sensing and control systems, the furnace will provide critical operational data to help inform investment and operational decisions. It also complements MPI’s existing hydrogen storage and distribution infrastructure.
The project is funded through ECONOMISER 2, a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) programme delivered by the Foundation Industry Sustainability Consortium (FISC), and supports wider efforts to decarbonise energy-intensive foundation industries.
Alongside its core purpose, the furnace will serve as a flexible test bed for original equipment manufacturers and materials developers to evaluate components such as burners, sensors, and refractories under realistic conditions.
