HeidelbergCement researching full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Canada
HeidelbergCement’s North American subsidiary Lehigh Cement and the International CCS Knowledge Centre today announced a feasibility study of a full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) project as a definitive solution to cut greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.
The study targets the feasibility to capture the majority of the CO₂ from the flue gas of the Edmonton, Alberta, cement plant, thereby significantly reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from cement production. The study will encompass engineering designs, cost estimation, and a fulsome business case analysis. Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) is supporting the initiative with CAD1.4 million (around €960,000).
“This is a North American first in the cement industry to examine the feasibility of full-scale CCS as a definitive solution to cut greenhouse gas emissions,” says Dr. Bernd Scheifele, Chairman of the Managing Board of HeidelbergCement. “A 90-95% CO₂ capture rate is targeted at our Edmonton cement plant. The project is another important milestone on our path to become carbon neutral in concrete by latest 2050.”
Earlier this year, on 5 September 2019, HeidelbergCement and the state-owned Norwegian energy group Equinor signed a memorandum of understanding on CCS of CO₂ of the company’s Norcem cement plant in Brevik, Norway.
HeidelbergCement is set to reduce its specific net CO₂ emissions per tonne of cement by 30% compared to 1990 levels by 2030. This target has been approved by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) and is in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement, making HeidelbergCement the first cement company worldwide to have approved science-based CO₂ reduction targets. HeidelbergCement will realise its vision of carbon neutral concrete – at the latest – by 2050.
About HeidelbergCement
HeidelbergCement is one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of building materials, with leading market positions in aggregates, cement and ready-mixed concrete. The company employs some 57,000 people at more than 3,000 locations in around 60 countries.
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