Roadmap for Decarbonizing the Cement Industry

The “Roadmap for Decarbonizing the Cement Industry,” developed by ATIC (Technical Association of the Cement Industry), is a strategic plan aimed at achieving carbon neutrality in the sector by 2050. This aligns with national and European goals to address the climate crisis. The roadmap is built on various initiatives and technological innovations, focusing on key areas such as energy efficiency, carbon capture (CCUS), and the use of hydrogen as an alternative energy source and raw material.

The cement industry is a carbon-intensive sector, but it holds significant potential for emission reductions through the adoption of new technologies. Key action areas include:

• Energy Efficiency: Increasing efficiency in cement manufacturing processes, such as waste heat recovery and partial electrification.
• Carbon Capture Technologies (CCUS): Implementing kilns with carbon capture technology.
• Use of Hydrogen (H2): Exploring hydrogen as both an energy source and raw material for manufacturing processes.
• Infrastructure and Collaboration: Investing in transportation and storage infrastructure for CO2 and H2, as well as fostering strong collaboration between industry, academia, and government to ensure a successful transition.

The sector has also been committed to integrating the circular economy and contributing to more sustainable construction practices. ATIC has been working with other entities, such as the PTPC (Portuguese Technological Platform for Construction), to drive innovation and technological solutions that support sector decarbonization, particularly through the “Construction to Zero” project.

Supported by the European Union, this project aims not only to reduce emissions in the cement sector but also to facilitate the digital and ecological transition of construction as a whole.

The roadmap developed by ATIC aims to assist the cement industry in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. While the sector is among the most carbon-intensive, it also presents considerable opportunities to implement innovative technologies and solutions to reduce emissions. The roadmap is built on the following pillars:

1. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS):
The adoption of CCUS technology is one of the main strategies the cement industry can use to reduce emissions. By capturing CO2 produced during cement manufacturing, the sector can significantly decrease its carbon footprint. The project includes implementing new solutions to enhance the efficiency of capture and storage processes.

2. Hydrogen Use:
Hydrogen is a promising alternative energy source to replace fossil fuels in industrial kilns. The use of green hydrogen (produced from renewable sources) can be a crucial solution for decarbonizing cement production.

3. Energy Efficiency and Electrification:
Enhancing energy efficiency in cement production, such as adopting heat recovery technologies and partial electrification of processes, will help reduce energy consumption and associated emissions. Replacing fossil energy sources with renewable ones is also a key strategy.

4. Adoption of Circular Economy Practices:
The cement industry has significant potential to contribute to a circular economy by using industrial waste in cement production, reducing the need for virgin raw materials and consequently the carbon footprint.

5. Sectoral Infrastructure and Collaboration:
The project also emphasizes the need to create suitable infrastructure to support the transition to greener technologies, such as CO2 and hydrogen distribution networks. Collaboration between companies, research institutions, and the government is essential to implement these technologies effectively and achieve decarbonization targets.

The “Construction to Zero” project, supported by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU, is one of the ongoing initiatives aiming to implement this roadmap within the construction industry, with a particular focus on the cement sector and its processes.If you have a project that can contribute to achieving Net Zero by 2050 and want to secure funding to develop and expand your initiative, contact us at comercial@theventurebuilder.pt