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FME ZeMe - Zero Emissions Metal Production

Our mission

FME ZeMe developes the fundamental knowledge and technologies needed by the Norwegian metallurgical industry to become climate neutral by 2050.

Decarbonizing the metals industry by 2050 and maintaining competitiveness is the most ambitious transformation the sector has ever gone through.

FME ZeMe is a collaborative interdisciplinary research centre where industry partners, universities and research organisations work together to address this grand challenge.

We develop new knowledge, technologies & value chains, create collaboration between people at all levels and from all disciplines, and educate & train the current and future workforce.

Our work focusses on:

  • Climate neutral and energy efficient production processes
  • Processes for optimal carbon capture, utilization and storage
  • Circular and resource efficient value chains
  • Enhanced emission measurement and accounting tools
  • Digitalisation and modelling methods and tools
  • Frameworks for designing and evaluating zero emission metal production systems

Metals are essential for the green transition and to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The are used in energy supply, transportation, IT and digital technologies, buildings and infrastructure and health care, among others.

The Norwegian metals industry is a key supplier of low and zero emission metals and critical raw materials to Norway and Europe, providing supply security.

Today the sector represents about 100 billion NOK in export value and is the 3rd most important export sector in Norway. It uses over 32 TWh electricity and emitted 5.8 million tonnes of CO2, or 11% of Norway’s land-based CO2 emissions.

FME ZeMe works on knowledge and solutions for fuel switching, carbon capture, circularity and energy & resource efficiency as highlighted by the International Panel on Climate Change.

The use of clean, renewable energy is essential for decarbonizing the metals industry. It requires collaboration between the metals and energy industry and stakeholders to ensure supply and energy grid balance.

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Blogs

Blogs

Arrival of first PhD student, Linus Meistad

Utilization of industrial waste and byproducts

What is your topic about?

My doctoral research is about developing new uses for manganese sludge, a byproduct of manganese production often sent to landfills. I plan to develop metallurgical processes to purify and upgrade the sludge into cleaner, valuable manganese products and try to extract other metals such as zinc.

Why is your research important?

By doing so we will reduce landfill, decrease the need for ore extraction, and use existing resources better. My research project is crucial for the manganese industry to improve its resource efficiency and minimize its environmental impact.

And a little about you:

I studied Materials Science at NTNU, where I initially worked with functional materials before writing my master's thesis in hydrometallurgy. My interests span various areas of science, from analyzing research data to understanding sustainability aspects of materials. I enjoy learning about different scientific topics and approaches to problem-solving.

Photo: FME ZeMe/Casper Van der Eijk

 

Main supervisor: Gabriella Tranell, Department of Material Science;

Co-supervisor: Pshem Kowalczuk, Department of Geoscience and Petroleum

Funded by: FME ZeMe

Contact: NTNU link

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What is fme

What Is FME?

The Research Council of Norway's logo

FME is short for Centre for Environment-friendly Energy Research and is the Norwegian Research Council's arrangement for research activities carried out in close collaboration between research groups, trade and industry, and the public administration. Key tasks include international cooperation and researcher training. Read more on the Norwegian Research Council's web page.

Contact and socials

Contact

Director
Dr. Casper van der Eijk
E-mail: casper.eijk@sintef.no
Phone: +47 982 83 989
SINTEF Industry

Scientific director
Dr. Gabriella Tranell
E-mail: gabriella.tranell@ntnu.no
Phone: +47 982 83 926
NTNU, Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Administrative coordinator
Torleif Nordskog
E-mail: torleif.nordskog@ntnu.no
Phone: +47 926 00 121
NTNU, Department of Materials Science and Engineering

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