AC²OCem - Accelerating Carbon Capture using Oxyfuel Technology in Cement Production

The abatement of CO₂ emissions from industry processes is recognised as a key challenge for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. With regard to CO₂ reduction in the clinker production process, it is now widely acknowledged that the abatement of process-related CO₂ emissions will require the capturing and sequestration or utilisation of CO₂ from cement plants. Against this background the cement industry and research partners have investigated different options for capturing CO₂ from cement flue gases. During the past three years carbon capture options for the cement and lime industry have been further developed in the ACT- funded international research projects AC²OCem and ANICA. In the ANICA project (Advanced Indirectly Heated Calcium Looping Process), efficient concepts for CO₂ capture in cement and lime production plants by means of indirect heating have been developed. The AC²OCem project (Accelerating Carbon Capture using Oxyfuel technology in Cement production) focussed on the further development of oxyfuel technology and its retrofitability.

The consortia of AC²OCem and ANICA projects invite all interested people to a public workshop on carbon capture technologies which is organised by VDZ on 7th and 8th March 2023. Within this workshop results from both projects as well as lighthouse projects in the cement industry will be presented and discussed. The detailed agenda will be published shortly. The workshop will be held in English and is free of charge. It will be organised as a hybrid event, allowing participation in person at VDZ in Duesseldorf or online.

Register here!

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There is a consensus on the key role of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) in the reduction of industrial CO₂ emissions [1]. An aggregated CO₂ amount of 1.8 Gt until 2030 and 12.2 Gt until 2050 must be captured to meet ambitious CO₂ reduction targets, while 40 % of those emissions cuts must take place in the European industry [2]. In 2016, around one-fourth of the CO₂ emitted from major industries was related to cement production [2].

Referring to previous carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in the field of cement production, oxyfuel is identified as the most cost-effective solution, in comparison with post combustion technologies, for decarbonisation of cement plants [3, 4]. Hence, the AC²OCem project aims to contribute to the long-term European CO₂ reduction target and to accelerate carbon capture by maturing the oxyfuel technology in the cement industry. The project investigates the existing 1st generation oxyfuel technology and an innovative 2nd generation oxyfuel concept with the ultimate goal of reducing CO₂ avoidance cost, increasing plant efficiency and strengthening the overall competitiveness.

The project goals are defined based on the existing knowledge on an oxyfuel cement process obtained via previous and ongoing carbon capture projects in the cement industry. This will allow a narrowing of the technological gaps for promoting the oxyfuel technology to accelerate the large-scale demonstration with the perspective of near-zero CO₂ cement production.

The project consists of six work packages, management and dissemination, advanced oxyfuel burners, optimization of oxyfuel calciner, process simulations and techno-economic studies of 1st and 2nd generation oxyfuel technologies and a life cycle assessment. Within the project, pilot-scale experiments, as well as analytical studies, will be performed to bring the key components of oxyfuel cement plants to TRL 6 with the aim of reducing the time to market of the oxyfuel technology in the cement sector.

[1] Lockwood T. OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE THROUGH INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION: IEA Report CCC / 2084
[2] Quale S, Rohling V. The European Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage Laboratory Infrastructure (ECCSEL). Green Energy & Environment 2016;1(3):180–94
[3] CEMCAP Project: Project funded by European Union´s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 641185; Available from: www.sintef.no/projectweb/cemcap
[4] European Cement Research Academy (ECRA). The cement industry´s approach to car-bon capture: ECRA CCS project poster. [August 13, 2018]; Available from: www.sintef.no/globalassets/sintef-energi/cemcap/ecra_ccs_project_poster_v3.pdf