Germany: On 21 August 2026, the new membrane test facility at Holcim’s cement plant in Höver was officially commissioned by government officials and Stephan Hinrichs, CEO of Holcim Germany. The technology was developed at the Helmholtz Centre Hereon and brought to market by Cool Planet Technologies. It is designed to capture up to 90% of the CO₂ emissions from the plant.
The Hereon membranes consist of several layers of polymer and allow CO₂ to pass through more quickly than other flue gas components such as nitrogen and oxygen. In Höver, the exhaust gas stream from the cement plant is passed through the test facility over the membranes. The CO₂ is separated and discharged, while the remaining, low-emission exhaust gas stream is returned to the cement plant. This expansion phase is expected to capture up to 10,000t/yr of emissions in Höver. The CO₂ is processed and can be used as a raw material. The membrane process is chemical-free and can be operated entirely with renewable electricity.
The project has received funding from the Federal Funding Program for Industry and Climate Protection, through which the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy supports the decarbonisation of heavy industries, including the development and application of carbon capture, utilisation and storage technologies (CCUS) for capturing, storing and utilising CO₂.
“Höver will be one of the first industrial sites in Germany where CO₂ is captured in a real and large-scale manner,” said Holcim CEO Stephan Hinrichs. “We are relying on cutting-edge European technology and leveraging the engineering expertise of our technology partners. Together, we are demonstrating in Lower Saxony that climate protection and strengthening industry can go hand in hand.”
