Displaying items by tag: decarbonisation
Germany: The University of Trier is transforming post-consumer materials into ‘ecological’ cement through a new research project that aims to find sustainable alternatives for the construction industry. The project involves using low-CO₂ industrial post-consumer materials as alternative cement binders, such as sludge from gravel and sand mining, as well as dust from quartzite extraction. The research will run for two years and is supported by the German Federal Environment Foundation.
Canada: Finland-based Wärtsilä will provide a hybrid-electric propulsion system for an 11,000t-capacity limestone carrier, commissioned by CSL Group with China-based CCCC Shanghai Equipment Engineering and Jingjiang Nanyang Shipbuilding. The order supports CSL Group’s decarbonisation strategy by optimising engine and battery load and reducing fuel consumption.
The vessel is scheduled for delivery to CSL Group in 2026 and will initially operate on a hybrid diesel and battery system, transitioning to full electric power by 2031 to reduce carbon emissions by 90%, according to CSL Group. Wärtsilä will supply the whole hybrid electric propulsion system, including generators, DC hub, energy management system, main propulsion e-motors, bow thruster e-motors and battery solution.
The director of Electrical & Power Systems at Wärtsilä Marine, Torsten Büssow, said "Wärtsilä is committed to making decarbonised shipping possible, so we are delighted to be supporting CSL with solutions that enhance the sustainability of their fleet. This is a short sea shipping vessel that will operate with a lot of manoeuvring and variable load profiles, and electrification and hybridisation systems are the most efficient for such vessels."
Australia: Calix has been awarded a US$10m grant from the Australian government’s Carbon Capture Technologies Program to build a commercial demonstration electric calciner for ‘near zero emissions’ lime and cement production. The grant covers up to 50% of the expenditure, contingent on meeting project milestones.
The project will utilise the Leilac technology to capture up to 20,000t/yr of CO₂ from the cement and lime manufacturing processes. The project will create two revenue streams via a ‘near zero emissions’ lime product, as well as up to 15,000t/yr of captured CO₂ being sold to the SM1 project for green methanol production.
In the second phase of the project, production will be expanded to include the processing of cement raw meal to a ‘near zero emissions’ clinker product, with captured CO₂ supplied for use.
Nigeria: Lafarge Africa has launched ECOPlanet Unicem, the country's first low-carbon multipurpose cement, from its Mfamosing plant in Cross River State. The new product is reportedly designed with over 30% reduction in CO₂ emissions. ECOPlanet will be available nationwide by the end of 2024.
Cimpor launches new plant in Cameroon
22 July 2024Cameroon: Cimpor has inaugurated its new plant in Kribi, Cameroon. Following investments in Côte d'Ivoire, Cimpor embarked on this greenfield project in February 2020, integrating the ‘world's first’ operational flash calcined clay production line, launched on 29 October 2023.
Cimpor Cameroun now has an output of 1.2Mt/yr of cement and 0.4Mt/yr of calcined clay. Cimpor's calcined clay production technology - ‘deOHclay’ – reportedly saves up to 80% in CO2 emissions, up to 35% in electricity consumption and up to 40% in thermal energy consumption per tonne. Compared to a plant with a similar capacity, this technology could reduce CO2 emissions by around 0.2Mt/yr, according to the company. The new plant will reduce the country’s dependence on imports to meet local cement needs.
Mexico: Regenera, a subsidiary of Cemex, has launched a pilot project at its Broquers Ambiental plant in Querétaro to transform the city’s organic waste into alternative fuel using a drying process known as ‘biosecado’. This initiative makes Querétaro the first zero waste municipality in Mexico, according to the company. The plant now processes almost 90% of the municipality’s waste, transforming over 8000t monthly into biomass to reduce the amount of material sent to landfill.
Vice president of urban solutions at Cemex Mexico, Antonio Balmori, said "This project that we started today at our Broquers Ambiental plant excites me very much because it will take the city of Querétaro to the next level in waste management, where we will seek to take advantage of 100% of the urban solid waste generated in the municipality."
France: Irish cement producer Ecocem plans to industrialise a new technology that will be implemented at its Dunkirk site in northern France by 2025. The technology, called ACT, replaces clinker with limestone filler to reportedly reduce the carbon footprint of cement by 70% compared to the average French cement.
The company is relying on public funding from Bpifrance, the Hauts-de-France region and the urban community of Dunkirk.
US: Holcim US in Missouri will receive US$1.37m from President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act to support the reduction of climate pollution in manufacturing construction materials, as announced by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The grant is part of a broader effort to reduce emissions from the manufacturing industry and will aid Holcim's Environmental Product Declaration Accelerator Project.
EPA Region 7 Administrator, Meg McCollister, said "We commend Holcim for its work in advancing sustainable practices to reduce carbon emissions here in the Heartland and across our nation. Its innovative approach, supported by this grant, advances climate-friendly practices and sustainability in one of our nation's most important industries."
Canada: Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, announced the reinvestment of up to US$1.6m from industrial pollution pricing proceeds into a new emissions reduction project at St Marys Cement in St Marys, Ontario. This initiative will involve the installation of a new kiln utilising low-carbon fuels, including discarded plastics, to reduce the use of carbon-intensive fuels used in the manufacturing process by up to 30%. The project aims for a reduction of over 39,900t of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, according to Foreign Affairs news.
Denmark: Aalborg Portland, a Danish cement firm, has completed testing for its second carbon capture pilot plant and will now undergo further trials in Romania and Greece, according to M-Brain News. This plant is a key component of the EU-subsidised ConsenCUS project.
A spokesperson for Aalborg Portland said "This experience offers preliminary knowledge ahead of establishing a full-scale CO₂ capture facility, and we are also contributing to the progression of this area where we, within the ConsenCUS collaboration, have verified the existence of multiple potential technologies for CO₂ capture."