Displaying items by tag: reduction

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.

Spain: Cemex España will install a carbon capture system at its Alicante cement plant in Valencia, as part of its efforts to make the unit a 'benchmark pioneer low-CO₂' cement plant. The producer holds a contract with ET Fuels for the supply of 45,000t/yr of CO₂ captured at the facility for methanol production.

Chief executive officer Fernando González said “Our goal of reaching net-zero CO₂ emissions is achievable and will be driven by collaboration and innovation. Our decarbonisation roadmap includes reducing emissions to the lowest possible level through proven levers such as clinker substitution and alternative fuels. New levers, such as rapidly developing CCUS initiatives, must effectively tackle the remaining CO₂ emissions to hit our ambitious 2050 objectives.”

Australia: The government plans to reform its CO₂ emissions Safeguard Mechanism in line with its stated goal of net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050. Under the latest proposals, 215 industrial plants, including Australia's cement plants, will have to reduce their CO₂ emissions by 4.9% year-on-year every year until 2030. The Australian newspaper has reported that the government is currently receiving submissions on the proposed reform as part of its consultation process, which will end on 24 February 2023.

The Business Council of Australia and the Australian Industry Group have encouraged the government to introduce an adjustment mechanism for imports, based on the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), in conjunction with any tightening of the Safeguard Mechanism.

Mexico: Cemex says that it has received validation from the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) for its 2050 Net Zero Roadmap. The roadmap sets out strategies, including carbon capture, for ‘aggressive CO₂ reductions’ across Cemex’s entire value chain, in order to achieve carbon neutral cement production by 2050. The group’s current carbon capture projects portfolio has the potential to reduce its CO₂ emissions by 3Mt/yr.

Cemex CEO Fernando González said “The construction industry is essential to the development and wellbeing of society, and its transition to carbon neutrality is achievable. The SBTi’s validation of our decarbonisation target attests to this, as well as the strength of our commitment.”

Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos has revised its Scope 1 CO₂ emissions reduction goal down to 475kg/t of cementitious product by 2030, from 520kg/t previously. The new target is 8.7% lower than the previous one, which it set in November 2020. Votorantim Cimentos previously reduced its emissions per tonne by 20% between 1990 and 2021. The group's targeted reduction from a 2018 base year now equates to 25%. The Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) validated the ambitious target on 1 December 2022.

Votorantim Cimentos expects to achieve its aim through increased alternative fuel (AF) co-processing, substitution of supplementary cementitious materials, improved efficiency and use of renewable power and the development of new technologies, including carbon capture.

The group's global sustainability, institutional relations, product development and engineering director Álvaro Lorenz said “The fight against the negative effects of climate change is at the heart of our strategy and reflects our focus on competitiveness and on creating a positive legacy. The most competitive businesses will be those with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions. After all, the environmental crisis is also an economic and social crisis. The validation of our new target by SBTi reinforces our commitment and continuous efforts toward the net-zero agenda.”

Ireland: Ecocem has announced the launch of ACT, an alternative materials-based cement ingredient capable of reducing the CO₂ emissions of cement production by 70%. The developer says that any existing cement plant can produce ACT at comparatively low cost. The technology is globally scalable, and Ecocem expects to achieve full commercial availability across its Benelux, France, Ireland and UK markets by 2025.

Ecocem managing director Donal O’Riain said “We are eager to work closely with the cement industry and with policymakers to support the scaling and development of a new generation of low-carbon cements. Current policy priorities on decarbonising cement have now been overtaken by technology. Fully effective deployment of ACT requires policymakers to provide effective support well beyond their traditional emphasis on CCUS as the core cement decarbonisation technology.”

Ecocem's investors include France-based building products company Saint-Gobain and US-based Breakthrough Energy Investments.

Sweden: Germany-based KIMA Process Control has secured a contract for the supply of a kiln shell cooling system for Cementa's Slite cement plant in Gotland. 88 water jets will deliver centimetre-precision cooling for the 55m-long kiln, while IR pyrometers measure temperatures over areas of 10cm². According to KIMA Process Control, the equipment can avoid unnecessary cooling of the kiln shell, conserving the heat energy supplied by the main burner.

The new cooling system will eliminate the use of energy intensive electric fans, slashing 1700t/yr in CO₂ emissions, according to the supplier. It said that noise emissions will also 'drastically' decline as a result of the upgrade. The system's operating costs are reportedly 98% less than those of the plant's existing fan system.

The supplier said that the new equipment will 'bring the cement plant in Slite an economic benefit in the shortest possible time.' It said "For the cement industry, this project represents a new milestone in terms of best available technology in the operation of rotary kilns."

Mexico: Cemex sold 47.8Mt of cement in the first nine months of 2022, down by 5.3% year-on-year from 40.5Mt in the same period of 2021. Despite this, its consolidated revenues rose by 8%, to US$11.7bn from US$10.8bn. The group's cost of sales grew by 12% to US$8.09bn from US$7.25bn, and its operating earnings before interest, depreciation, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) dropped by 6.6%. Nonetheless, contributions from discontinued operations led to net income growth of 72%, to US$987m from US$574m.

Cemex said that higher prices in local currency terms drove sales growth across all of its regions. As a percentage of sales, costs grew to 70% from 68%, mainly on account of energy price rises. Operating EBITDA fell across all regions apart from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia (EMEAA), where it rose by 2.5% to US$524m from US$511m. Cemex noted Europe's 'remarkable resilience' in implementing 'double-digit' price increases to increase earnings, while also crossing a threshold of 40% in CO2 emissions reduction from its 1990 baseline.

Philippines: Cemex subsidiary Solid Cement is installing a new US$356m, 1.5Mt/yr line at its Antipolo cement plant. When operational in April 2024, the line will increase the plant’s capacity by 79% to 3.4Mt/yr. Over the first four months of the project since March 2022, Solid Cement invested US$197m in silos and mechanical installation. The new 1.5Mt/yr line will use Low Temperature Clinker technology to reduce its CO₂ emissions, and will also recycle waste hot gases for raw materials drying.

Solid Cement is building the plant using 6000t of its own Vertua reduced-CO2 cement, which it says will further reduce its net carbon footprint by 564t.

Philippines president and CEO Luis Franco said “We will maintain our active role in supporting the development of this nation, as we have done in the past 25 years.”

World: Three cement producers - Cemex, Dalmia Cement and Holcim – are founding members of COP26’s First Movers Coalition public-private partnership. The partnership plans to use its global purchasing power to create markets for emerging CO₂ emissions reduction technologies, in order to accelerate and scale collective impact towards the global realisation of emissions reduction targets.

The coalition expects technologies currently on the market to account for 82% of CO₂ emissions reduction before 2030 and 50% before 2050, while it expects future technologies to account for 15% before 2030 and 46% before 2050.