Displaying items by tag: Sustainability
Germany: Orcan Energy has expanded its Kiel plant in order to produce its waste heat recovery (WHR) systems entirely on-site. The expansion aims to meet increased global demand, in line with Orcan Energy's strategy to help reduce CO2 emissions from cement and other industries.
Orcan Energy CEO Andreas Sichert said "The decision to expand our in-house production capacity in Kiel reflects our commitment to growth and innovation in Germany. With roots in Munich and a range of global projects, we can promote sustainable change around the world from Germany. I look forward to working together with my colleagues in Kiel to contribute to a profitable and sustainable energy future."
Votorantim Cimentos achieves top CDP climate rating
07 February 2024Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos has earned an A the CDP Climate Change 2023 Questionnaire. This achievement reflects the producer's leadership in climate change performance and transparency. Between 1990 and 2022, Votorantim Cimentos reduced its CO2 emissions per tonne of cement produced by 24%.
Global director of sustainability, institutional relations, product development and engineering Álvaro Lorenz said "Earning the highest score from CDP is something we are very proud of. We work daily to achieve our goals in line with our 2030 Sustainability Commitments and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Tackling the negative effects of climate change is at the core of our strategy and we recognise the role, importance and relevance of our decarbonisation journey."
Global Cement and Concrete Association’s 3rd Innovandi Open Challenge to commence on 20 February 2024
07 February 2024UK: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) will launch the 3rd Innovandi Open Challenge on 20 February 2024. The programme aims to bring together select green technology start-ups and global cement producers. The GCCA will announce details of the challenge's topic at the launch event on 20 February 2024, featuring industry and start-up speakers, including previous challenge participants. Registration is accessible here on the GCCA website.
GCCA chief executive officer Thomas Guillot said "Innovation and new technologies will help unlock our industry’s net zero future. Join us on 20 February 2024 to hear about this year’s exciting challenge."
Register for the 3rd Innovandi Open Challenge3rd Innovandi Open Challenge
Cemex welcomes European Commission's Carbon Management Strategy
07 February 2024EU: Cemex has welcomed the European Commission's Carbon Management Strategy, its new policy approach to industrial CO2 emissions reduction. The approach highlights the storage of biogenic CO2 and the development of CO2 transport infrastructure as major strategic paths. Cemex said that it will assist in the design and implementation of actions under the Carbon Management Strategy. In its European cement operations, Cemex reduced its CO2 intensity by 45% in 2023 compared to 1990 levels, and aims to achieve a 55% reduction by 2030. The producer called for ‘the completion of the policy landscape’ in complement to the industry’s on-going efforts towards full decarbonisation.
Cemex Europe, Middle East and Africa director communications, public affairs and social impact Martin Casey said “The strategy is comprehensive and outlines relevant fields of action, but what is essential now is a timely implementation. For companies to move forward, the regulatory framework regarding carbon capture and utilisation or storage, along with carbon accounting and removals, must be completed as a matter of the utmost urgency. The cement plant of 2030 is planned and designed today.”
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to deliver full-scale carbon capture system at Heidelberg Materials UK's Padeswood cement plant
06 February 2024UK: Heidelberg Materials UK has awarded Japan-based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) a front end engineering design (FEED) contract for an upcoming carbon capture installation at its Padeswood cement plant in Flintshire. Australia-based Worley will also collaborate on the project, which is scheduled to become operational in 2028. The partners aim to capture up to 800,000t/yr of CO2 using MHI’s amine solvent-based Advanced KM CDR process. MHI previously conducted a pre-FEED carbon capture study at the Padeswood plant, beginning in 2022.
Heidelberg Materials UK chief executive officer Simon Willis said "This is a decisive next step in our plans to install carbon capture technology at our Padeswood cement works. Once operational, it will provide net zero building materials for major projects across the country, enabling us to help decarbonise the construction industry and meet our ambition to become a net zero business."
MHI CEO and head of engineering solutions Kenji Terasawa said "Heidelberg Materials UK has committed to reaching net zero carbon by 2050 and will be deploying our proprietary carbon capture technology, the Advanced KM CDR process, to tackle this challenge, leading the way in the UK's cement industry."
Cemex UK to build shore power system at Shoreham Port
06 February 2024UK: The UK Department for Transport has awarded Cemex UK a grant of just under Euro2m to build a shore power system for its maritime logistics operations at Shoreham Port in West Sussex. The system will enable the company to eliminate on-board diesel engine use during marine aggregate discharges. It will incorporate battery energy storage and solar power generation to provide constant power, whilst simulating fluctuating power demands. Cemex UK will now work with automation specialist Iconsys and the University of Warwick to deploy a demonstration system, which will run from April 2024 until April 2025.
Cemex West Europe materials operational excellence and business development director Laurence Dagley said "Our initial feasibility study for this shore power system identified an opportunity to save a significant amount of CO2 during each dredger discharge, while also improving local air quality at the port itself. We are, therefore, pleased to have received this funding to progress to the next stage of the project and undertake on-site demonstration."
Heidelberg Materials is a Climate A-Lister
06 February 2024Germany: Sustainability disclosure organisation CDP has named Heidelberg Materials on its Climate A List 2024 for its corporate transparency and climate performance. The group also received an A- rating for Water Security. Heidelberg Materials’ product and process innovation efforts toward CO2 emissions reduction include carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects aimed at capturing 10Mt of CO2 by 2030.
Heidelberg Materials’ chief sustainability officer Nicola Kimm said "We are honoured to be included in CDP’s Climate A List and to be recognised for our efforts in decarbonisation. This also demonstrates our leadership in the industry – both in breakthrough technologies such as CCUS, and when it comes to sustainable products. We will continue to drive the transition to low-carbon construction."
Kenya: Mashujaa Cement plans to build a US$77.4m integrated cement plant at Chasimba, Kilifi South. The Standard newspaper has reported that environmental group Nature Kenya claims that Mashujaa Cement’s environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for the upcoming plant ‘lacked comprehensive assessments’ of its possible impacts. These include a possible threat to 31 critically endangered local plant species, including Kenya’s endemic African violets, growing on outcrops of the local Kambe Limestone Belt.
Nature Kenya said “The ESIA indicates scientific unfamiliarity as it contains carelessly worded generic statements such as ‘species will be relocated to Arabuko Sokoke forest’, ‘the site is devoid of any eco-sensitive area’ and ‘impact on biodiversity and wildlife is minimal’.”
Brazil: Secil subsidiary Supremo Secil Cimentos will invest US$20.3m in an upcoming expansion of its Adrianópolis cement plant. Commencing in July 2024, the expansion will raise the plant’s clinker capacity by 10% and enable it to increase its alternative fuel (AF) substitution rate from 25 – 30% to 40%, and eventually to 50% by 2030. To date, AF use at the plant has reduced its cumulative consumption of petcoke by 100,000t.
CEO Paulo Nascentes highlighted the transformative impact of the Adrianópolis plant on its host community, with its initial investment of US$176m and a subsequent US$41.7m in previous upgrades to date. "One of the reasons why the Paraná government allowed the plant was because Adrianópolis was very neglected. The arrival of Supremo transformed the city," he said.
Oficemen and Enagás’ new collaboration to include development of carbon capture and storage economy
02 February 2024Spain: The Spanish cement manufacturers' association, Oficemen, has signed a two-year co-operation agreement with utilities provider Enagás. Under the agreement, the pair will explore decarbonisation techniques and solutions, including the development of infrastructure for transporting captured CO2, as well as hydrogen and oxygen. Oficemen members reduced their total CO2 emissions by 44% between 1990 and 2022. Europa Press News has reported that Oficemen believes that carbon capture and storage (CCS) will be crucial in realising the industry’s 2050 climate neutrality goal. Oficemen became the first industrial association in Spain to publish a net zero roadmap in 2020.