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Norway's first CO2 capture plant: Cement industry in transition!
Heidelberg Materials opens first CO2 capture facility in Norway; a step towards reducing cement emissions.
Norway's first CO2 capture plant: Cement industry in transition!
A technological step towards climate protection was taken on Wednesday in Brevik, Norway. The first industrial-scale CO2 capture plant opened its doors, ushering in a new era for cement production. This innovative plant, which is part of Heidelberg Materials, aims to filter 400,000 tons of CO2 from the cement plant's exhaust gases every year. This corresponds to around half of the CO2 emissions of this plant, which produces up to 1.2 million tons of cement annually. The CEO of Heidelberg Materials, Dominik von Achten, described the inauguration as a “historic milestone” for the cement industry, which is responsible for around seven percent of global CO2 emissions and emits an average of 58,000 kilograms of CO2 per ton of cement, according to the taz reported.
With global cement production now at around four billion tons, reducing emissions is more urgent than ever. The cement industry is challenged not only to reduce its CO2 emissions, but also to introduce innovative solutions. The use of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a practical solution. The CO2 is filtered from the environment, cooled down and then temporarily stored in old gas fields under the North Sea. The Northern Lights consortium, which consists of the companies Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies, is responsible for CO2 transport.
Economic efficiency and criticism of the CCS projects
The public discourse around CCS is divided. Critics, including Greenpeace, describe the high costs and delays of the project as “economic madness”. Many see the inauguration of the facility as a kind of PR show by Heidelberg Materials. The debate about alternatives is becoming louder - recycling of cement and the use of other building materials are being discussed. Despite this criticism, the Norwegian government will cover a significant portion of the cost of the Longship project, which will cost around $3.4 billion. This is almost two thirds of the total cost.
Meanwhile, Heidelberg Materials is only revealing scant information about the sales strategy for its newly produced CO2-reduced cement, which is to be marketed to sustainable architecture companies. The only known buyer of the eco-friendly cement is the new Nobel Center in Stockholm. Cement production is still a significant emitter of greenhouse gases and requires new approaches to achieve climate goals.
New products and technologies in the cement sector
As part of the Brevik project, a new type of cement called “evoZero” will be produced from 2025, which is considered the world's first CCS cement. This product allows the production of off-grid concrete without compromising strength and quality. In this way, the cement sector could take a significant step towards more sustainable paths. Innovative technologies to reduce emissions are not only seen as necessary, but also as an opportunity to make the entire industry fit for the future. The Fraunhofer UMSICHT Institute highlights that in addition to CO2 capture, alternative fuels and materials can also contribute to a significant reduction in emissions.
Overall, it can be said that the developments in Brevik and the advancing technologies in the cement sector both offer opportunities and raise questions. The coming years will be crucial for the implementation of sustainable practices and the successful use of CO2 reduction measures in industry.