Achieving climate neutrality in the cement and lime industries poses a particular challenge, given that the majority of CO₂ emissions are caused by raw material-related emissions from the decompo-sition of limestone. The capture and storage of CO₂ (carbon capture and storage, CCS) is therefore pivotal in enabling these industries to achieve climate neutrality. The selection of a suitable capture technology is contingent on site and plant-specific conditions. In many cases, multiple production lines or products exist which generate substantial CO₂ emissions.

The purpose of the research project is to gain the first systematic scientific findings on spalling behaviour in the event of fire and on thermo-mechanical and thermo-physical properties for concretes with the new clinker-efficient cement types and with recycled aggregates.

The aim of the research project was to investigate the suitability of largely unutilised mineral secondary raw materials from the stone and earth industry as a resource-conserving and climate-friendly main cement constituent. The utilisation of calcined clays from secondary raw materials instead of conventional cement main constituents or high-quality primary clays can make an important contribution to the production of climate-friendly and resource-efficient cements. This means that the transformation process of the cement industry can be shaped in a way that is not only cli-mate-friendly but also resource-efficient.

EMSARZEM analyses the processing and utilisation of waste incineration ashes, which are produced during the thermal recycling of municipal waste.

In this training you will learn how to conduct and evaluate cement kiln and mill trials. Kiln and mill examinations are carried out in order to gather data on the performance and to validate warranty performance data such as the output, the energy consumption, input/output ratio or the efficiency. Using this data as a reliable basis, you can for example optimise individual components of the operating system as well as the cement quality, reduce energy demands as well as emissions, evaluate material cycles and reduce coating formation.

In this training you will become familiar with all relevant aspects concerning the use of alternative fuels in cement plants. Starting with the main political drivers such as the circular economy and the European waste fuel strategy, you will get a detailed insight into the current state-of-the-art-situation with regard to the use of alternative fuels in the EU. In this context, pre-treatment and suitable quality control of alternative fuels will be also explained and presented to you. You will focus on all the relevant aspects of the use of alternative fuels in the burning process (e.g. drivers and barriers of their use, available process technology and latest developments) and discuss them in the sessions. You will acquire knowledge about technical feasibility and optimisation potential, and have the possibility to discuss case studies.

Clinker production is the most energy-intensive process step in cement manufacturing. It can represent up to 90% of the total energy demand in a cement plant and is therefore a main focus not only with regard to cost optimisation and quality improvement of the final product, but also regarding emission control and the reduction of impacts on the environment. VDZ’s training will enable you as participant to obtain a deeper knowledge of the clinker production process and a better understanding of how the daily decisions can impact the overall performance of the plant (quality, electrical energy use, fuel consumption and emissions).

The 9ᵗʰ International VDZ Congress took place in Düsseldorf on 6 – 8 November 2024. The VDZ Congress is the international scientific forum for the cement industry and its suppliers. Delegates from all over the world discuss the latest developments concerning the transformation of the industry on its way towards climate neutrality.