Displaying items by tag: Emissions

Europe: 77 decarbonisation projects (including 14 for the cement sector) have signed grant agreements under the Innovation Fund 2023 Call (IF23), following the announcement of results in October 2024. The cement projects, spanning nine European countries, will begin operations between 2025 and 2029.

The funding, sourced from the EU Emissions Trading System, provides grants ranging from €4.4m to €234m, supporting projects expected to avoid 118Mt of CO₂. The total 77 projects funded have the potential to reduce emissions by around 398Mt of CO₂ equivalent over their first 10 years of operation. The projects funded in the cement industry mostly involve carbon capture and storage (CCS). Among the selected CCS projects are Carbon2Business in Germany, Olympus in Greece, Go4Zero in Belgium and Cementir’s Accsion project in Denmark.

Sweden: Swedish cement manufacturer Cemvision has entered a strategic partnership with Norway-based residential developer JM to develop ‘climate-friendly’ cement and concrete. As part of the agreement, JM has also acquired a minority stake in Cemvision.

Cemvision’s cement reportedly reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 95% compared to traditional cement, through the use of recycled industrial waste from mining and steel industries, combined with renewable energy in its kiln operations.

US: California Resources Corporation and its carbon management subsidiary, Carbon TerraVault (CTV), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with National Cement Company of California to develop the ‘Lebec Net Zero’ project, which will produce carbon-neutral cement at National Cement’s Lebec facility in Kern County, California.

CTV will provide transportation and sequestration solutions for up to 1Mt/yr of CO₂ emissions captured from the Lebec plant. The captured CO₂ will be transported and stored in CTV’s underground storage reservoirs. The project will integrate carbon capture technology, use locally sourced biomass fuel from agricultural byproducts and produce limestone calcined clay cement (LC3).

Pending customary approvals, operations are expected to commence in 2031.

Mexico: Holcim México has mitigated 1.7Mt of CO₂ emissions in housing and infrastructure projects throughout the country in 2024, according to a press release, through its ECOPact, ECOPlanet and ECOCycle sustainable products.

Holcim’s ECOPact low-carbon concrete reduces CO₂ emissions by at least 30% and represents 15% of its concrete sales, with a target of 27% by 2027. Its ECOPlanet cement range reduces CO₂ emissions by 35-65% relative to traditional blends and accounts for 56% of cement sales, with a target of 77% by 2027. ECOCycle technology incorporates recycled construction and demolition materials into concrete for non-structural applications like pavements.

Global: Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has launched the Innovandi Open Challenge 2025, inviting start-ups to wok together with cement manufacturers around the world in developing low carbon concrete technologies.

The Open Challenge is looking for start-ups working on next generation materials for net zero concrete, including low-carbon admixtures, supplementary cementitious materials, activators or binders. The challenge aims to find ways to reduce clinker use and incorporate new materials to lower CO₂ emissions.

The programme follows three previous Open Challenges.

Chief executive Thomas Guillot said "Advanced production methods which are decarbonising our sector are already being used in cement and concrete production in many parts of the world. Through the Innovandi Open Challenge, start-ups can bring in even newer ideas and further accelerate our industry's push."

“If you are a start-up from anywhere in the world with an innovative idea or technology, then we want to hear from you."

Start-ups can find more information and apply to take part in the Innovandi Open Challenge by going to the GCCA Open Challenge 4 webpage: Innovandi Open Challenge 4 : GCCA

Europe: Sweden-based SaltX has signed a letter of intent with German engineering firm thyssenkrupp Polysius to collaborate on establishing 100% electric cement production facilities in Europe. The facilities will combine SaltX’s electric arc calciner (EAC) technology with thyssenkrupp Polysius’ material handling solutions.

CEO of SaltX Lina Jorheden said "Strong partnerships are essential for us to effectively implement our technology and reduce millions of tonnes of CO₂ emissions from the industrial sector. Our collaboration with thyssenkrupp Polysius is crucial for developing complementary systems to the EAC technology and building electrified facilities for our customers."

Sweden: Heidelberg Materials has successfully operated a 300kW plasma-heated cement kiln at its Slite cement plant, which it claims is the first of its kind. The producer has achieved 54 hours of continuous operation, with 60% CO₂ concentration in the flue gas. The aim is to reach 99%.

The kiln is part of the ELECTRA project, which aims to replace traditional combustion processes with electricity-based solutions, like plasma. The project consists of 17 partners from 8 countries.

Project manager Bodil Wilhelmsson said "It looks very promising. We started the tests at the end of last year and can now say with certainty that this is the right way to go: we will be able to produce clinker with plasma."

Fuel-related CO₂ emissions from cement production are eliminated because no fuel needs to be used in the production process. Instead, CO₂ is heated to over 5000°C, where it becomes a plasma jet that heats the material in the kiln.

Wilhelmsson added "The absence of fuel in the process means that there is no ash in the product. This means that a parameter that could affect the quality of the product if it fluctuates is no longer considered. So, it looks like the quality of the clinker can actually be slightly higher in this process."

Heidelberg Materials plans to build a 1MW kiln in Skövde cement plant in 2026, where further tests will continue.

Taiwan: The government will draft carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) legislation in the second half of 2024 ‘at the earliest’, according to the Taipei Times. The measure will follow the EU's CBAM implementation in 2026, with official guidelines expected to be issued by July or August 2025.

Domestic cement and steel producers have reportedly complained to the Ministry of Environment that competing importers are not required to disclose their emissions. Subsequently, the Ministry is preparing a list of importers to be regulated. According to the Minister of Environment, Peng Chi-Ming, Taiwan imports about one-third of its cement from Vietnam, which would be subject to CBAM regulations.

The legislation will align with corresponding EU regulations and complement carbon fees for domestic producers introduced in 2024.

Indonesia: The Ministry of Industry will introduce mandatory emissions limits for cement producers, as well as for those in the fertiliser, paper and steel industries. Companies will be encouraged to participate in carbon emissions trading.

Apit Pria Nugra, head of the Green Industry Centre at the Ministry, said that companies could receive compensation for emissions below the limit, but that they would need to purchase carbon credits from other companies if they exceed the limit.

The government will subsequently extend the emissions trading scheme to five additional sectors.

Egypt: Arabian Cement Company (ACC) has signed a €25m loan agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The loan will be used to assist the company’s decarbonisation efforts. It will finance the company’s alternative fuel capacity expansion and automation of its facilities. The company will also acquire and install a hydrogen injection system at its Ain Sokhna cement plant. This will reduce CO₂ emissions by 130,000t/yr.

CEO of Arabian Cement, Sergio Alcantarilla, said "This agreement with EBRD is a key milestone in ACC's sustainability journey, supporting our transition to cleaner technologies. The integration of the hydrogen injection at our Ain Sokhna plant will enhance operational efficiency and significantly reduce our carbon footprint."