Displaying items by tag: Emissions
California legislature enacts cement industry decarbonisation framework for carbon neutrality by 2045
12 October 2021US: The California State Senate has voted in favour of a bill to implement the US’s most advanced statutory framework for cement industry decarbonisation by 74 votes to two. The statute provides for the implementation of lifecycle CO2 emissions reporting for cement produced in the state at an estimated cost of US$220,000/yr. The California Air Resources Board will then implement a ‘programme developed as a result of identified strategies’ at an ‘unknown but significant cost.’ The aim of the strategy will be to facilitate a 40% reduction in cement production’s CO2 emissions between 2019 and 2030 and the attainment of net zero cement production by 2045.
Central Plains Cement to receive US Department of Energy funding for 30t/day cryogenic carbon capture installation at Sugar Creek cement plant
08 October 2021US: The US Department of Energy has selected Central Plains Cement to receive US$5m-worth of funding to realise its plans for a cryogenic carbon capture (CCC) installation at its Sugar Creek, Missouri, cement plant. Contify Energy News has reported that the system will initially have a capacity of 30t/day of CO2, with a view to eventually capturing 95% of the plant’s flue gas’ CO2 content. The Eagle Materials subsidiary will receive US$5m in funding from the US Department of Energy for the project. The sum is part of a raft of a total US$45m-worth of grants to help towards decarbonising heavy industry and natural gas power. Chart Industries will carry out the work.
Chart Industries CEO and President Jill Evanko said that the company’s CCC model increases cement production costs by just 24%, compared to 38% - 130% for other types of system. She added “We are delighted that public and private entities recognise Chart as a leader in carbon capture technologies and products; we view this award as well as our third quarter 2021 commercial activity as meaningful steps and accelerators toward capturing - pun intended - a significant share of our anticipated US$6bn total addressable market for carbon and direct air capture in 2030.”
The St Louis Post newspaper has reported that Holcim US’s Ste-Genevieve, Missouri, cement plant is also among facilities chosen to receive funding for carbon capture and storage (CCS) installations.
Mexico: Cemex has received validation from the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) for its 2030 global CO2 emissions reduction targets. The validation attests that the targets conform with the Paris Agreement’s well-below 2°C global warming limit. Under its Future in Action programme, Cemex aims to reduce its cement’s carbon footprint to 40% compared to 1990 levels and achieve 55% renewable energy use by 2030. The company says that it has the global cement industry’s most ambitious 2030 targets.
CEO Fernando Gonzalez said “Climate action is the biggest challenge of our times. Cemex is taking decisive action to address it by defining ambitious emissions reduction targets in line with the SBTi, and executing against those targets.” He added “We commit to continue leading the industry in climate action not only because it creates value, but more importantly because it is the right thing to do. Cemex is building a better future, and that future must be sustainable.”
Holcim Russia envisions 15% emissions reduction by 2030 and carbon neutral cement production by 2050
05 October 2021Russia: Holcim Russia has committed to realising a 15% CO2 emissions reduction in its cement production between 2019 and 2030 to 475kg/t from 561kg/t. It plans to further reduce its cement’s CO2 emissions to 453kg/t by 2050, and to implement further measures to ensure its net carbon neutrality at that time.
Corporate relations director Vitaly Bogachenko said “The company's goal is to drastically reduce carbon emissions, and there are two working solutions for this. The first is the use of alternative fuels (AF) obtained from different types of waste: residues of municipal solid waste after sorting and extraction of all useful fractions from them, used tyres and others. The presence of biomass in them makes such fuels carbon neutral, so emissions during production are significantly reduced. The second solution is to replace carbon intensive raw materials. For example, instead of limestone, we use slags. The 'recipe' for cement is completely different: thanks to the new composition and the lower temperature during the firing process, the carbon footprint in the production of cement is reduced.”
EcoBati secures H-Iona cement distribution contract with Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies
04 October 2021Benelux: Belgium-based building supplies chain EcoBati has signed a distribution agreement with France-based Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies. The producer will supply its H-Iona clinker-free cement for EcoBati to sell online and in its shops in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies owners Julien Blanchard and David Hoffmann said "Signing a distribution agreement with an international specialist in ecological materials shows the competitive edge and relevance of our H-Iona cement within the context of the fight against global warming. We are therefore delighted with the signing of this partnership that allows us to benefit from the EcoBati network’s strategic retail outlets and provide a response to the exponential demand for sustainable cement. We intend to sign more such partnerships in the future in order to spread our responsible vision of the construction sector and contribute to the environmental transition."
Udaipur Cement Works to establish new 4.2MW solar power plant
01 October 2021India: Udaipur Cement Work plans to increase its reliance on renewable power with the installation of a new 4.15MW solar power plant at its cement plant in Udaipur, Rajasthan. When operational, the installation will increase the Udaipur plant’s solar power capacity by 42% to 14.3MW. The producer says that its entire solar power apparatus will facilitate a reduction in CO2 emissions of 14,000t/yr. In the 2020 and 2021 financial years, the producer consumed 13,000MWh of solar power, reducing CO2 emissions by 10,000t.
Hanson and the Mineral Product Association complete hydrogen-fuelled cement production trial
30 September 2021UK: The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has announced the successful completion of a trial of cement production using a net-zero fuel mix consisting of hydrogen and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) at Hanson’s Ribblesdale, Lancashire, cement plant. The RDF in the mix consists of meat and bone meal (MBM) from the food industry and glycerol from biodiesel production.
Increased alternative fuel (AF) substitution is one of seven key levers in the MPA’s Roadmap Beyond Net Zero emissions reduction strategy. The association says that the fuel will eliminate 180,000t/yr of CO2 emissions from the Ribblesdale plant’s operations when fully implemented. The project received Euro3.71m in government funding.
Hanson’s environmental sustainability manager Iain Walpole said “We are delighted to be involved with this world-leading project, which is a further example of our commitment to cutting CO2 emissions.” He added “It will also contribute to our ambition of supplying net zero carbon concrete by 2050.”
Californian governor commits to net-zero cement CO2 strategy by 2045
29 September 2021US: California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill requiring the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop a plan by mid-2023 for the state’s cement producers to achieve net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by the end of 2045 at the latest. A 40% reduction compared to 2019 levels would also be required by the end of 2035 with interim targets set beforehand. CARB will also be obliged to ‘define a metric for greenhouse gas intensity,’ monitor emissions data, set a baseline to measure emissions reduction progress, evaluate measures to support market demand and financial incentives to encourage the production and use of low-carbon cement amongst other actions.
Texas Commission on Environment Quality discards crystalline silica limits for ready-mix concrete plants
23 September 2021US: The Texas Commission on Environment Quality has discarded legal limits on crystalline silica in ready-mix concrete plants’ dust emissions. Commissioner Bobby Janecka said "I am pretty comfortable moving forward and finalising the proposed revision of the standard permit to bring us back to the point we departed from in 2012." He added that the commission had confirmed the decision with analysis from before the previous rule change, which he attributed to a ‘clerical error.’
Cemex UK completes rail depot upgrades
13 September 2021UK: Cemex UK has carried out track improvements and extensions at its Attercliffe, Small Heath and Bletchley rail depots. The works included a new siding and storage bays for offloading at Small Heath. Meanwhile, improvements at the Attercliffe depot will enable delivery vehicles to safely use the same area in the day as trains do at night.
Rail and sea manager Mark Grimshaw-Smith said “The summer months have provided us with the perfect opportunity to complete a considerable programme of investment into track at three of our rail depots. These sites are all very different, and spread out across the country, but they are all important parts of our rail network and ripe for development.” He added, “As our use of trains to transport our materials increases, it is vital that we have the infrastructure in place to support this. Further investment is planned at some of our other UK railheads over the coming months.”
The company is in the process of a transition to rail and sea transport from road. Progress in 2020 eliminated 17,500t of CO2 emissions from 150,000 road movements not taken.