Cement and carbon emissions (original) (raw)

Carbon dioxide reduction potential in the global cement industry by 2050

Cement and Concrete Research, 2018

This paper, which is a contribution to the UNEP series on Eco-Efficient Cements, examines the role of materialbased solutions to reducing CO 2 emissions from cement production considering factors that could influence implementation. Global urbanization has led to an increase in demand for cement and cement-based materials. With its growth in consumption, the associated CO 2 emissions from its production are raising concern. However, the role of mitigation strategies in a global context that account for regional material availability and degree of market adoption have yet to be considered. This work shows that the 2°C scenario targets for 2050 can be met through increased use of calcined clay and engineered filler with dispersants. The introduction of new Portland clinker-based cement alternatives, use of alkali-activated materials, and improvement of efficiency of cement use could further contribute to reduction goals. There are currently-available technologies for reduction that could be rapidly implemented.

CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM THE GLOBAL CEMENT INDUSTRY1

Annual Review of Energy and the Environment, 2001

The cement industry contributes about 5% to global anthropogenic CO 2 emissions, making the cement industry an important sector for CO 2 -emission mitigation strategies. CO 2 is emitted from the calcination process of limestone, from combustion of fuels in the kiln, as well as from power generation. In this paper, we review the total CO 2 emissions from cement making, including process and energyrelated emissions. Currently, most available data only includes the process emissions. We also discuss CO 2 emission mitigation options for the cement industry. Estimated total carbon emissions from cement production in 1994 were 307 million metric tons of carbon (MtC), 160 MtC from process carbon emissions, and 147 MtC from energy use. Overall, the top 10 cement-producing countries in 1994 accounted for 63% of global carbon emissions from cement production. The average intensity of carbon dioxide emissions from total global cement production is 222 kg of C/t of cement. Emission mitigation options include energy efficiency improvement, new processes, a shift to low carbon fuels, application of waste fuels, increased use of additives in cement making, and, eventually, alternative cements and CO 2 removal from flue gases in clinker kilns.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Global Cement Industry

Annual Review of Energy and the Environment, 2001

▪ The cement industry contributes about 5% to global anthropogenic CO2 emissions, making the cement industry an important sector for CO2-emission mitigation strategies. CO2 is emitted from the calcination process of limestone, from combustion of fuels in the kiln, as well as from power generation. In this paper, we review the total CO2 emissions from cement making, including process and energy-related emissions. Currently, most available data only includes the process emissions. We also discuss CO2 emission mitigation options for the cement industry. Estimated total carbon emissions from cement production in 1994 were 307 million metric tons of carbon (MtC), 160 MtC from process carbon emissions, and 147 MtC from energy use. Overall, the top 10 cement-producing countries in 1994 accounted for 63% of global carbon emissions from cement production. The average intensity of carbon dioxide emissions from total global cement production is 222 kg of C/t of cement. Emission mitigation op...

Carbon Dioxide Uptake by Cement-based Materials Made with Cements Used in Spain 3

Featured Application: IPCC´s Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories do not take 16 into account the net CO2 emissions due to the Portland cement clinker manufacturing; i.e. the 17 amount emitted as a consequence of the calcination process of the raw material in the clinker 18 production less the CO2 absorption occurred by the concrete carbonation. This article points out 19 that it is clear that the net assessment should be taken into account in the future climatic models. 20 Abstract: The European parliament has declared a global "climate and environmental emergency" 21 on 28 th November, 2019. Given that, climate change is a clear strategic issue all around the world.

Conventional and Alternative Sources of Thermal Energy in the Production of Cement—An Impact on CO2 Emission

Energies, 2021

The article evaluates the reduction of carbon dioxide emission due to the partial substitution of coal with alternative fuels in clinker manufacture. For this purpose, the calculations were performed for seventy waste-derived samples of alternative fuels with variable calorific value and variable share in the fuel mixture. Based on annual clinker production data of the Polish Cement Association and the laboratory analysis of fuels, it was estimated that the direct net CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion alone were 543 Mg of CO2 per hour. By contrast with the full substitution of coal with alternative fuels (including 30% of biomass), the emission ranged from 302 up to 438 Mg of CO2 per hour, depending on fuel properties. A reduction of 70% in the share of fossil fuels resulted in about a 23% decrease in net emissions. It was proved that the increased use of alternative fuels as an additive to the fuel mix is also of economic importance. It was determined that thanks to the com...

Making Concrete Change Innovation in Low-carbon Cement and Concrete

2018

Each year, more than 4 billion tonnes of cement are produced, accounting for around 8 per cent of global CO2 emissions Making Concrete Change: Innovation in Low-carbon Cement and Concrete Executive Summary vi | #ConcreteChange all will need to be deployed at scale to meet the decarbonization challenge. Some of these solutions are well recognized and common to other sectors: for instance, the energy efficiency of cement plants can be increased, fossil fuels can be replaced with alternatives, and CO2 emitted can be captured and stored. The main focus of this report, however, is on those emissions mitigation solutions that require the transformation of cement and concrete and are thus unique to the sector. More than 50 per cent of cement sector emissions are intrinsically linked to the process for producing clinker, one of the main ingredients in cement. As the by-product of a chemical reaction, such emissions cannot be reduced simply by changing fuel sources or increasing the efficiency of cement plants. This report therefore focuses on the potential to blend clinker with alternative materials, and on the use of 'novel cements'-two levers that can reduce the need for clinker itself by lowering the proportion of clinker required in particular cement mixtures. Despite widespread acceptance among experts that these are critical, they have received far less policy focus. Well-known barriers stand in the way of deep decarbonization of cement. The sector is dominated by a handful of major producers, which are cautious about pioneering new products that challenge their existing business models. In the absence of a strong carbon-pricing signal, there is little short-term economic incentive to make changes. Alternative materials are often not readily available at the scale required. Meanwhile, architects, engineers, contractors and clients are understandably cautious about novel building materials. Implementing new practices also implies a critical role for millions of workers involved in using concrete across the urban landscape. Low expectations around the prospects for a radical breakthrough in cement production are reflected in the limited attention given to the sector in key assessments of low-carbon pathways in recent years. 5 As one recent report notes, 'When cement emissions are mentioned at all in public debate, it is typically to note that little can be done about them.' 6 There is, however, a growing sense not only of the urgency of the need to decarbonize cement production, but also of the expanding range of technological and policy solutions. The range of major organizations now working on relevant strategies includes the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Energy Agency (IEA)-working with the industry-led Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI)-and the Energy Transitions Commission, an initiative involving high-level energy experts and stakeholders aimed at accelerating the transition to low-carbon energy systems. For decision-makers, more insight is needed into the potential for scalable, sustainable alternatives to traditional carbon-intensive cement and concrete. For this report Chatham House worked with CambridgeIP, an innovation and intellectual 5 The New Climate Economy's Seizing the Global Opportunity report mentions energy-intensive sectors such as cement, chemicals and iron and steel 'where emissions are large and significant reduction poses undeniable challenges', without spelling out a potential pathway for reduction of those emissions.

Global strategies and potentials to curb CO2 emissions in cement industry

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2013

Cement industry has been always among the largest CO 2 emission sources. Almost 5e7% of global CO 2 emissions are caused by cement plants, while 900 kg CO 2 is emitted to the atmosphere for producing one ton of cement. In this work, global strategies and potentials toward mitigation of CO 2 emissions in cement plant have been discussed and the most promising approaches have been introduced. Moreover the barriers against worldwide deployment of such strategies are identified and comprehensively described. Three strategies of CO 2 reduction including energy saving, carbon separation and storage as well as utilizing alternative materials in detail have been reviewed. In case of energy saving approaches, shifting to more efficient process for example from wet to dry process with calciner, shows the best results since potentially reduces up to 50% of required energy and mitigates almost 20% of CO 2 emissions in the process. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is also considered as an effective way to avoid release of CO 2 . However economical and technical challenges still play a remarkable obstacle against implementing such processes in the cement plant. As far as alternative materials are the case, utilizing waste-derived fuel (WDF) and industrial by-products instead of conventional fuels and materials result in the significant emission mitigation. Industrial wastes which can be used as both fuel and raw material simultaneously mitigate emissions in cement plants and landfills.