Cement, concrete and CO2 emissions

Cement and CO₂ emissions
Although the production of cement is energy intensive, the energy and CO₂ emissions of the final product concrete are among the lowest of all building materials.
For every tonne of cement produced, just under a tonne of CO₂ is released into the atmosphere. About half originates from the chemical process that transforms limestone into lime.  In addition,  about  half  comes from the fuel used to heat the kilns, much of which now comes from waste materials - oils, plastics, car tyres, etc - which are also safely disposed of in the process.  Currently, cement production is responsible for 5-8% of yearly man-made global CO₂ emissions, or nearly 1.6 billion tonnes of CO₂. Demand for cement by the year 2050 is forecast to double or treble. The transport of raw materials, cement and clinker around the world also contributes to the cement industry's CO₂ emissions.

What can cement manufacturers do to reduce their CO₂ emissions?

Manufacturers can reduce emissions by burning waste products alongside fossil fuels - in many European plants more than 70% of the fuel comes from waste products. They can also take measures to make their plants more energy-efficient. The efficiency in state of the art plants is now close to 80%.

Carbon capture and storage could also significantly reduce cement emissions, and the industry sponsors research into how this could be done. For example, Fly ash, a waste product from burning coal, can replace up to 30% of the cement used in making concrete, significantly reducing the CO₂ emissions emitted for a given quantity of concrete. When correctly used, the fly ash also increases concrete's strength and improves its resistance and durability.

What role is Nanocem playing in this effort?
Evolving CO₂ emission caps in Europe mean that cement manufacturers will have to find solutions, or pay more to produce cement, which will reduce their competitivity. Nanocem is sponsoring fundamental research that will support technological solutions, not only to help secure the long-term health of the European cement industry, but also to address global CO₂ reduction by ensuring that cement manufacturing is not just shifted to regions of the world that have less stringent emissions regulations.