Finding least-cost net-zero CO2 strategies for the European cement industry using geospatial techno-economic modelling
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Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Cement production is responsible for approximately 7% of anthropogenic CO2-equivalent (CO2e) emissions, while characterised by low margins and the highest carbon intensity of any industry per unit of revenue. Hence, economically viable decarbonisation strategies must be found. The costs of many emission reduction strategies depend on geographical factors, such as plant location and proximity to feedstock or on synergies with other cement producers. The current literature lacks quantification of least-cost decarbonisation strategies of a country or region's total cement sector, while taking stock of these geospatial differences. Here, we quantify which intervention ensembles could lead to least-cost, full decarbonisation of the European cement industry, for multiple European regions. We show that least-cost strategies include the use of calcined clay cements coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS) from existing cement plants and direct air capture with carbon storage (DACCS) in locations close to CO2 storage sites. We find that these strategies could cost €72–€75 per tonne of cement (tcement−1, up from €46–€51.5 tcement−1), which could be offset by future costs of cement production otherwise amounting to €105–€130 tcement−1 taking the cost of CO2e emission certificates into account. The analysis shows that for economically viable decarbonisation, collaborative and region-catered approaches become imperative, while supplementary cementitious materials including calcined clays have a key role.
Date Issued
2024-10-01
Date Acceptance
2024-09-13
Citation
RSC Sustainability, 2024, 2 (10), pp.3054-3076
ISSN
2753-8125
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
3054
End Page
3076
Journal / Book Title
RSC Sustainability
Volume
2
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.
License URL
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d4su00373j
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2024-09-13