![](/templates/proglobalmedia-main/images/globe-blue-whitebg.gif)
Displaying items by tag: Energy
China: The National Development and Reform Commission, along with other government departments, has launched the Special Action Plan for Energy Conservation and CO2 Reduction in the Cement Industry. The plan aims to cap clinker capacity at 1.8Bnt/yr by 2026, with 30% of it above the national energy efficiency benchmark level. This will reduce energy consumption per tonne by 3.7% from 2020 levels. The plan will eliminate 13Mt of CO2 emissions and 5Mt of coal consumption in 2024 – 2025.
Thailand: Siam Cement Group (SCG) has begun construction of a commercial heat battery supplied by Rondo Energy at its cement plant in Saraburi Province. It will be the first heat battery in Southeast Asia and the first heat battery deployed at a cement plant, according to the company. The project is a collaboration between Rondo Energy and SCG Cleanergy, a wholly owned subsidiary of SCG. Rondo Heat Batteries capture intermittent electricity and store energy as high temperature heat in bricks, to deliver continuous industrial heat and power on demand. This installation will convert local solar power into continuous zero-carbon heat and power for cement production.
President of Rondo Energy, Eric Trusiewicz, said "Electrification of cement production requires a large-scale and low-cost energy storage solution, as renewables are not available 24/7 but cement production needs to be."
Spain: The Spanish cement manufacturers' association, Oficemen, and Siemens Energy have signed a two-year collaboration agreement to develop decarbonisation techniques and solutions for Spain's cement industry. The agreement was signed by Siemens Energy's Industrial Sales Director for Southwest Europe, Angel Cillerruelo, and Oficemen's General Director, Aniceto Zaragoza.
Zaragoza said "The Spanish cement industry's commitment to climate neutrality by 2050, outlined in our roadmap, includes exploring the most effective levers for emission reduction, such as the decarbonisation of energy sources or the comprehensive energy management of industrial processes."
India: Orient Cement has successfully commissioned Phase 2 of the new waste heat recovery (WHR) plant at its Chittapur cement plant in Karnataka. Reuters has reported that the new phase raises WHR power capacity at the plant to 10.1MW.
Thailand: Siam Cement Group (SCG) reported first-quarter sales of US$3.36bn in 2024, down by 3% year-on-year. The group partly attributed this to a decline in its cement volumes. Nonetheless, group earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 4% to US$341m. Special items in the group’s first-quarter 2023 results precipitated an 85% year-on-year decline in net income to US$65.5m from US$446m.
SCG recorded first-quarter CO2 emissions of 5.99Mt, outstripping the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)’s recommendation of a 2.5% annual reduction. It relied on 47% renewable energy sources in its cement production.
Switzerland: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) is holding its Innovandi Global Cement and Concrete Research Network (GCCRN) Spring Week at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) campus on 22 – 26 April 2024. 450 delegates from over 40 academic institutions will attend the event, featuring workshops, idea exchanges and progress reviews focused on the decarbonisation of cement and concrete by 2050. Topics include the use of AI, alternative materials and processes, concrete recycling, renewables, kiln electrification and carbon capture.
GCCRN industrial chair and Cemex global research development vice president and Davide Zampini said “If we are to reach our goal of net zero concrete by 2050, then we cannot do so alone. We need to explore as well as harness solutions and collaboration well beyond our industry. That’s why Spring Week is so important.”
GCCRN scientific chair Karen Scrivener said “Everyone here at EPFL is proud to be hosting this year’s Spring Week, anticipated as our largest gathering yet, marking a significant milestone in our journey toward net zero research.”
Heidelberg Materials Italy signs sustainable energy deal
20 March 2024Italy: Heidelberg Materials Italy, formerly Italcementi, has entered into a seven-year supply agreement with Ox2. Under the deal, Ox2 will sell up to 70% of the energy generated at the Stornarella wind farm in Foggia. The farm was developed in partnership with Nuveen Infrastructure.
The Stornarella wind farm will be constructed in 2024. Once operational, it will provide an average of 37 - 51GWh/yr of clean energy from 2025 to 2032. Nuveen Infrastructure has purchased the wind farm, which will feature six turbines with a total installed capacity of 27MW and an estimated output of 73GWh/yr.
Stefano Gallini, CEO of Heidelberg Materials Italy, said "Energy is a fundamental component of our industrial process and represents one of the main levers of decarbonisation for the entire cement sector. The electrical component can also contribute significantly to this purpose, and we have identified reliable partners like Ox2 and Nuveen to accompany us on this journey."
Cemex and Orcan Energy extend waste heat recovery partnership
15 February 2024Mexico/Germany: Cemex and waste heat recovery (WHR) systems developer Orcan Energy plan to scale up WHR technologies supplied by Orcan Energy at multiple Cemex sites globally. This new multi-site portfolio approach extends an existing partnership, through which the companies trialled Orcan’s systems for electricity generation at Cemex Deutschland’s Rüdersdorf cement plant in Germany.
Cemex’s Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia regional president Sergio Menéndez said “We already have an initial collaboration with Orcan. Based on the modularity of their solution, Orcan offers the flexibility of both installation and contracts. Thanks to this crucial flexibility, we can adapt to any upcoming changes in our plants. The approach enables us to reduce carbon emissions right now without limiting ourselves in implementing any future technologies such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage. This partnership will help us achieve our sustainability targets and contribute to our aim to use all available heat.”
Orcan Energy’s chief executive officer Andreas Sichert said “We are looking forward to entering this large-scale decarbonisation partnership with Cemex after our initial cooperation in Germany. This step is a testament to Cemex’s forward-looking strategy and the company’s commitment to achieving net zero. For Orcan Energy, this is another milestone in scaling the business internationally with global enterprises. We are proud to be the partner of choice for the cement industry. Our large footprint across the industry shows the economic capability and the technical excellence of our modular and flexible solution, especially in view of uncertain future economic and regulative developments.”
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."
Cementos Alfa’s Mataporquera cement plant secures renewable energy supply from Capital Energy
06 February 2024Spain: Capital Energy has won a contract to supply renewable energy to Cementos Alfa’s Mataporquera cement plant in Cantabria. The energy company will supply 80,000MWh/yr to the subsidiary of Cementos Portland Valderrivas under the contract, initially from five local wind farms. The contract takes the form of long-term power purchase agreement (PPA), under a self-consumption scheme with surpluses.