Imperial College, Tata Steels join hands for green steel

A NEW £10-million design and manufacturing centre has been created in partnership between Imperial College London and Indian multinational, Tata Steel, as part of efforts to help decarbonise steel production.

The Centre for Innovation in Sustainable Design and Manufacturing is expected to enable the development of high-performing and sustainable products in the automotive and clean energy industries through new types of steel and other materials.

According to Imperial, such lighter and stronger types of steel could foster more energy-efficient and affordable vehicles and clean energy generation.

“Drawing on Imperial and Tata Steel’s combined expertise, this new centre will work to reduce the environmental impact in steel production and in key sectors that use steel, like the clean energy sector,” Professor Mary Ryan, vice-provost (research and enterprise) at Imperial College London and co-chair of the governing council of the center, said in a statement last Wednesday (13).

“To create a zero-pollution future, it’s vital that we priorities the systematic transformation of industrial systems.

“The new Centre will contribute to the creation of a high-tech and economically successful steel industry, both in the UK and across the world,” she said.

Imperial, a leading UK research university, said Tata Steel will benefit from the expertise of Imperial academics both in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and across the university.

“This new Centre is a great example of how Imperial’s research can have real-world impact and address a key global challenge,” according to Professor Nigel Brandon, Dean of Imperial’s Faculty of Engineering.

“Innovative manufacturing processes are urgently needed to decarbonize steel production and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable steel industry. By combining Imperial’s academic expertise and Tata Steel’s valuable insight and experience in this industry, we will maximise the impact of our research to benefit people around the world,” he said.

Tata Steel aims to grow its technological capabilities and use high-tech manufacturing processes and products.

“The Centre is a part of Tata Steel’s larger endeavor to build stronger industry-academia partnerships for driving technological advancement,” said TV Narendran, CEO and managing director, Tata Steel.