A green solution has long been sought by the cement industry. However, providing high-temperature process heat of up to 1,500 °C without fossil fuels has been one of several major obstacles. In addition, there has been uncertainty about changes to the complex production flow when introducing a new energy source – including how hot air is distributed and recirculated in the kiln – and how a new process could enable the capture of pure CO?.
These challenges have now been solved by the two Danish engineers through a combination of well-known technologies, electrification and heat recovery. A validated solution, supported by leading experts in the field.
“The process takes place entirely without combustion, using electricity as the sole energy source. At the same time, the CO? extracted has a purity that allows it to be directly cooled, compressed and stored underground without the need for subsequent capture or chemical purification,” says Morten Drivsholm, expert in cement decarbonisation at COWI.
“In the future, cement production will be established where there is a surplus of green electricity and access to CO? storage. This marks a new, decentralised and sustainable business model for the cement industry,” Morten Drivsholm adds.