Displaying items by tag: CO2
Cemex issues US$1bn in notes
15 March 2023Mexico: Cemex has made an issue of US$1bn-worth of notes without a maturity date. The producer says that the proceeds will fund its green initiatives.
Cemex said "Eligible green projects include capital, operating and research and development expenditures related to pollution prevention and control, renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation, sustainable water and wastewater management and eco-efficient and/or circular economy-adapted products, production technologies and processes.”
GCCA launches second Innovandi Open Challenge
15 March 2023UK: The Global Cement & Concrete Association (GCCA) held an online launch for its second Innovandi Open Challenge on 14 March 2023. The global challenge matches start-up companies with some of the world’s leading cement and concrete manufacturers, which operate in almost every country across the world, to work on initiatives to cut emissions and pioneer environmental change across the industry. The launch follows the success of the first ever Innovandi Open Challenge in 2022, which saw cement companies partnering with six start-ups, with a strong focus on carbon capture and utilisation projects.
This time around, applicants are being asked to work on the development of new materials and ingredients for low carbon concrete – a major step towards the goal of net zero concrete. Alternative materials, including construction and demolition waste, can result in far lower CO2 emissions than traditional concrete, as well as reduce the need to use virgin raw materials. The applications phase will last until mid-May 2023.
Thomas Guillot, CEO of the GCCA, said “We’re calling on the best and the brightest from around the world to join us in the urgent fight to limit global warming and help towards delivering the great prize of net zero concrete. If you are a start-up from Austria to Australia, from Brazil to Bangladesh, with an innovative idea or technology, then we want to hear from you.”
Those companies that are accepted for this year’s Innovandi Open Challenge will gain unique access to industry plants, laboratories, key networks and the expertise and infrastructure of the GCCA’s 40 members from around the world. They will also receive guidance from the GCCA and its members to help them with the development of new technology and business cases.
Claude Loréa, GCCA cement director and innovation lead, said “We’ve already seen some remarkable progress from those start-ups who’ve been working with our members on the first Innovandi Open Challenge, with several projects already in the pilot stage. This year’s theme, low carbon concrete, is equally challenging. To succeed, we need products which are affordable, scalable and easily adopted. Good luck to all this year’s applicants. We look forward to working with those selected.”
Alamo Cement Company commissions 17,800MWh solar power plant at San Antonio cement plant
13 March 2023US: Buzzi Unicem subsidiary Alamo Cement Company has successfully commissioned its new 17,800MWh solar power plant at its San Antonio cement plant in Texas. The producer says that the facility will eliminate 8000t/yr-worth of CO2 emissions from the plant's operations. It spans an area of 18.2 hectares at the site of the 1.1Mt/yr cement plant. Texas-based energy provider CPS Energy built the installation.
Alamo Cement's director of engineering and construction management William Kovacs said "I am incredibly proud of the multi-discipline work that went into this first-of-its-kind project for Alamo Cement in San Antonio. It is an example of the type of collaboration necessary to continue to unlock and apply new energy sources for cement producers. It was a collective effort that brought together our corporate team, CPS Energy and regional engineering firms and contractors."
El Salvador: Holcim El Salvador says that the upcoming solar power plant at its El Ronco cement plant will have a capacity of 21.4MW, across three separate installations. Energy provider AES El Salvador holds a 20-year power supply agreement for construction and operation of the plant. The La Prensa Grafica newspaper has reported that Banco Cuscatlán supplied a loan for the project. When operational, the new solar power plant will lower Holcim El Salvador's oil consumption by 43,000 barrels/yr.
Holcim El Salvador CEO Rodrigo Gallardo said "We are not only making solutions and products with a lower CO2 content, but also cutting CO2 in our production processes."
SLB launches geopolymer-based well cement product
08 March 2023US: SLB has launched EcoShield, a geopolymer-based well cement product. The company, also known as Schlumberger, says that the product cuts out up to 85% of embodied CO2 emissions compared with conventional well cementing systems because it does not use ordinary Portland cement (OPC). It also reduces transport related emissions by using locally-sourced natural materials and industrial waste streams in its composition. The company says that the cement-free system can be deployed throughout various phases of the well life cycle, including abandonment. It can also be deployed across a range of field applications, including corrosive environments.
Jesus Lamas, SLB’s president of Well Construction, said “Decarbonising the well construction process while ensuring safety and performance standards is critical to our industry’s pathway to net zero.” He added “The cement-free EcoShield system is a breakthrough that delivers industry-standard zonal isolation capabilities while significantly minimising impacts from upstream oil and gas production.”
EcoShield has been tested by Pioneer Natural Resources in the Permian Basin on an 18-well field testing campaign and its use is ongoing.
Canada: Progressive Planet is preparing to build a 3200t/yr pilot plant for its PozGlass product at its headquarters in Kamloops, British Columbia. The company aims to commercialise its process, which produces pozzolan from recycled glass for use in cement or concrete production. The pilot unit will also sequester CO2 released by a gas dryer at the site, from which it will produce sodium carbonate. The pilot plant is expected to go under construction in 2023 and be operational in 2024.
Steve Harpur, the chief executive officer of Progressive Planet, said “With PozGlass, a CleanTech breakthrough from our C-Quester Centre of Sustainable Innovation in Kamloops, we are producing one of many upcoming private-sector solutions that are needed to meet the 2050 Net Zero targets to fight climate change.”
Progressive Planet aims for PozGlass production to be situated at cement kilns, where PozGlass could be mixed with Portland cement at a 50:50 ratio.
France: CRH subsidiary Eqiom expects to complete its carbon capture system installation and kiln upgrade at its Lumbres cement plant under the EU's K6 Programme in early 2028. The project uses Air Liquide's capture technology, whereby purified CO2 is liquefied for storage or use in building materials production.
Anhui Conch releases update on domestic CCS plans and cement plant projects in Uzbekistan
03 March 2023China/Uzbekistan: Anhui Conch has released an update on some of its major development projects. Its new plant at Tashkent in Uzbekistan has an investment of around US$260m. The company reports that 30,000m2 of equipment and materials have arrived, the rotary kiln supporting wheels have been hoisted in place, the main body installation of the coal mill has been completed, the structure of the dormitory building has been capped and the main factory area has begun to take shape. It is also building a plant at Brakbash District in Andijan State. Civil engineering and main engineering construction are reportedly underway. The company also has a third cement plant in the country. So far the group has built over 10 cement plants outside of China.
In China, Anhui Conch is building a CO2 energy storage demonstration project at its Baimashan cement plant in Wuhu, Anhui province. The group says that, once complete, the project will be the world's first commercial demonstration project of a CO2 energy storage system. It says that during the low power consumption period, the excess power will be used to compress CO2 at normal temperature and pressure into a liquid. The heat energy generated during the compression process will be stored. The stored heat energy will then be used to heat the liquid CO2 back into a gas, driving the turbine to generate electricity, reducing the cost of electricity. The demonstration project has an area of 40,000m2.
The cement producer says it is working towards a model of ‘one base and five industries’ where cement production links to other industries such as new energy, new materials, environmental protection, the digital economy and the promotion of international trade.
Adbri increases full-year sales in 2022
01 March 2023Australia: Adbri reported a full-year rise in sales of 8.5% year-on-year to US$1.15bn in 2022 from US$1.06bn in 2021. Its earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) fell to US$106m, down by 10% from US$118m. The producer said that its cement sales rose by 6.3% year-on-year. Demand remained ‘solid’ in Western Australia, while sales dropped in Southern Australia, partly due to wet weather and the loss of an exclusive supply contract. Adbri noted that “The backlog of residential construction works, attributed to the shortage of trades and wet weather in 2022, will continue to underpin good order books in 2023.”
The group said “The past year has been one of the most challenging for the company in its long history. Our results were delivered against the backdrop of a difficult macroeconomic environment, which included the global economic instability resulting in inflationary pressures and wet weather events across Australia. The company also underwent a substantial leadership transition in the latter part of the year, with the former managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) and chief financial officer stepping down from active duties as the company accelerates its transformational agenda.”
In 2022, Adbri achieved a 12% reduction in operational CO2 emissions compared to 2019. Chief executive officer Mark Irwin called on the national government and state governments to embed CO2 emissions reduction targets in legislation, and on the former to implement a carbon border adjustment mechanism on imported cement. Irwin noted that failure to implement such measures may lead lower-emitting plants such as the Birkenhead, South Australia, cement plant to transition to grinding imported clinker or consider closure.
Germany: The Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) has validated Heidelberg Materials' new 2030 CO2 reduction targets. The targets have a base year of 2020 and conform to a 1.5°C climate change framework. Per tonne of cementitious material, the producer is now committed to reducing its Scope 1 CO2 emissions by 24%, its Scope 2 CO2 emissions by 65% and its Scope 3 emissions by 25%.
Heidelberg Materials' chief sustainability officer Nicola Kimm said “As reflected in our updated Sustainability Commitments 2030, climate action is a crucial element of Heidelberg Materials’ sustainability strategy. The SBTi validation shows that our sustainability agenda not only includes the most ambitious reduction target in the cement industry – but also a realistic, measurable plan in line with the 1.5°C scenario. We follow a clear, science-based approach, reducing our carbon footprint through the levers of product and process innovation and industrial-scale carbon capture, utilisation and storage. By closing the carbon and material loops, we will lead the sustainable transformation of our sector.”
In 2019, Heidelberg Materials became the first cement company to secure SBTi validation for its emissions reduction commitments.