
Displaying items by tag: Alternative Fuels
Ash Grove Mississauga cement plant to burn alternative fuels
24 January 2025Canada: Ash Grove Cement, part of CRH, says it will release the findings of technical studies supporting its plan to burn alternative fuels at its Mississauga cement plant. Ash Grove plans to burn materials such as construction and demolition waste, wood, plastics and rubber.
The company says the initiative will reduce fossil fuel emissions by limiting its current reliance on coal, while also diverting materials from landfill.
Portland Cement Association asks US Department of Energy to consider alternative fuels
23 December 2024US: The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has asked the US Department of Energy to add alternative fuels to its Material Circularity Framework. It said that alternative fuels in the cement manufacturing process are better for the environment than the use of traditional fuels and that it diverted a significant amount of materials from landfill. The PCA said that the DOE’s Framework “…should address how to promote circularity through alternative fuels and replacement of raw materials to promote reducing greenhouse gases emissions.”
The DOE released its draft strategic framework ‘Circularity for Secure and Sustainable Products and Materials’ in October 2024. It asked for feedback from stakeholders by mid-December 2024. The framework is intended to identify opportunities and challenges to use circularity to decarbonise industry, secure supply chains, benefit communities and create jobs. The draft mentions recycling concrete and generating secondary cementitious materials from recovered material streams.
Vicat subsidiary to develop Lebec Net Zero project with DOE funding
16 December 2024US: Vicat subsidiary National Cement Company of California has signed a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations to develop the Lebec Net Zero (LNZ) project at its Lebec cement plant in California.
The agreement commits up to US$500m, covering up to 50% of the Phase one cost. The project includes constructing a CO₂ sequestration facility with a 0.95Mt/yr capacity, enabling the plant to capture ‘almost all’ of the plant’s emissions. It will also increase alternative fuel use from locally sourced biomass and reduce the plant’s clinker factor by producing calcined clay-based cement. The plant will reportedly produce carbon-neutral cement.
The first step will be to conduct a preliminary engineering study and establish a community advisory body in charge of relations with local communities. Phase one will run through the first quarter of 2026.
Oyak Cement to invest in RDF at Adana plant
12 December 2024Türkiye: Oyak Cement will invest US$4.59m to increase fuel supply capacity at its Adana plant. The producer will add 180,000t/yr of processing capacity to the existing 36,000t/yr refuse-derived fuel (RDF) production capacity, raising the total to 216,000t/yr. It will also establish a biomass facility with a capacity of 180,000t/yr. The RDF will be prepared at a disposal fuel facility for use in the cement plant.
Anu Söderena appointed as Manager, Nordics & Baltics at Tana Oy
11 December 2024Finland: Tana Oy has appointed Anu Söderena as Manager, Nordics & Baltics. Her responsibilities include leading and developing the sales and rental business of Tana Rental's machine portfolio, as well as coordinating maintenance and spare parts operations.
Söderena previously worked as a Business Development Manager at Kuusakoski Recycling, where she was responsible for managing a recycling plant investment project, among other roles. She holds a master’s degree in materials engineering and a master of business administration qualification.
Cemex and SUEZ mark alternative fuel milestone at Rugby cement plant
11 December 2024UK: Cemex and SUEZ Recycling and Recovery have celebrated the use of 1Mt of alternative fuel at Cemex’s Rugby cement plant since the adjacent SUEZ Malpass Farm facility opened in 2015. The partnership has reduced coal consumption at the plant by over 750,000t, alongside downstream CO₂ savings from supply chain emissions transporting and shipping coal on-site.
SUEZ processes non-recyclable materials at Cemex’s Rugby facility to produce Climafuel. The fuel is derived from sifted and shredded waste from local authorities and businesses in the Midlands, and is used to heat the kiln at the neighbouring Cemex plant. Ash from the Climafuel is also incorporated into clinker production.
Phil Baynes-Clarke, director of cement operations for Cemex UK, said “Since 2013, we have collaborated closely with SUEZ to produce Climafuel, a refuse-derived, non-fossil-based alternative fuel used to heat the kiln in the cement-making process. Over the past decade, Climafuel usage has steadily increased at our Rugby cement plant. Our ultimate goal is to operate the kiln with 100% alternative fuels, and we are getting close to this target.”
Boral launches upgrade at Berrima cement works
06 December 2024Australia: Boral has launched upgraded ‘carbon-reducing’ technology at its Berrima Cement Works in the Southern Highlands region of New South Wales (NSW). The upgraded facility features a new chlorine bypass, which reduces the build-up of chlorides and other alternative fuel byproducts. This will reportedly enable alternative fuel usage to reach 60% over the next three years at the site, doubling its current substitution rate of 30%.
Thai Cement Manufacturers Association presents ‘Saraburi Sandbox’ project progress at COP29
04 December 2024Thailand: At COP29 in Azerbaijan, the Thai Cement Manufacturers Association, in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change and Environment, the Global Cement and Concrete Association and United Nations Industrial Development, showcased the achievements of the ‘Saraburi Sandbox’ project. Notable successes include more than 80% of construction projects in Saraburi now using hydraulic cement, the cement industry increasing its use of alternative fuels and renewable energy to 26%, and a pilot project for growing crops like Napier grass for use as alternative fuels in cement production. These developments are key to implementing the Thailand 2050 Net Zero Cement and Concrete roadmap.
Cimpor’s Souselas plant celebrates 50th anniversary
04 December 2024Portugal: Cimpor recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Souselas plant, which has been operational since November 1974. The plant was initially launched with a production capacity of 500,000t/yr of clinker, but has since adapted to meet market demand.
Throughout its five decades of operation, the Souselas plant has produced over 69Mt of clinker and processed approximately 667,000t of alternative fuels. Current projects include the rehabilitation of Line 2 for producing calcined clays, installing photovoltaic plants and focusing on co-processing and heat recovery initiatives, with the aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The anniversary event showcased recent projects, such as the installation of a 1MW photovoltaic plant and the planned introduction of a 10MW plant by 2025. Additionally, a 7.4MW waste heat recovery system will commence operation in February 2025 and a 10MW hydrogen plant is scheduled for 2026.
Assiut Cement to manage waste plant
03 December 2024Egypt: Assiut Cement, part of Cemex, is set to manage and operate a non-hazardous post-consumer material recycling plant in Tunal-Gabal, Mallawi, Minya, around 230km south of Cairo. According to Yago Castro Izaguirre, Cemex President in Egypt and UAE, the material treated by the plant will produce alternative fuels for the company’s cement plant in Assiut.
The plant will receive 320t/day of material from Mallawi and Deir Muwwas. As well as alternative fuels, the plant will also make organic fertilisers. Rejects will be disposed of in a new sanitary landfill that is currently under construction.