We are engaged in research on the potential of new technologies such as carbon capture, usage and storage in reducing CO2 emissions from the use of fossil fuels.
Innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. At Cementir we are committed to achieving the objectives we have set ourselves through the study of alternative technological solutions for CO2 reduction and low carbon products, as well as the growing involvement and participation of multiple players in the sector such as research institutes, institutions and others player.
Our key innovations
Launched in Denmark in January 2021 and then marketed also in France and Benelux area since 2022
Innovative limestone and calcined clay technology which allows high clinker replacement in cement.
Aalborg Extreme Light 120 in the market since October 2018
Ready-to-use, self-compacting RMC products for very high aesthetical, mechanical and durability performance - wet-cast casting method - semi - structural or structural
Product in the pipeline: in the market since December 2019
Ready-to use, high performance mortar products for very high aesthetical - primary focus is surface detail and finishing - wet-cast casting or sprayed method - semi-structural
Product under development
Ready-to-use, high performance RMC mortar products for 3D printing technology - primary focus is buildability and surface finishing - structural, semi-structural and non-structural
FUTURECEM® - Low carbon cement
The history of FUTURECEM® begins almost 20 years ago, when researchers from the Research and Quality Center of the Cementir Group discovered the synergy between some types of calcined clay and limestone which allowed to replace clinker with a reduction in CO2 emissions ensuring the same performance.
Thus the technology was born as the result of extensive research covering the entire value chain.
A milestone in the development of FUTURECEM® was the Danish project Green Concrete II, focused on the green transformation of cement and concrete production, which ended in 2019.
FUTURECEM® is recognized as a cutting-edge solution for clinker reduction as described in the roadmap for a "Low-carbon transition in the cement industry" of the International Energy Agency (2018), and in the Cembureau document "Cementing the European Green Deal" (2020).
This technology has also been recognized into the European standard EN 197-5 for the production of II / CM cements with replacement of clinker up to 50%.
Marketing began in January 2021, in Denmark, positioning the Cementir Group as a pioneer in industrial production.
FUTURECEM® is the heart of the innovation process of the Cementir Group: our ambition is to include product innovation in our offer of solutions that allow to achieve the challenging objectives towards greater sustainability not only for the Cementir Group, but also to its customers.
By 2030, estimated sales of cements with FUTURECEM® will reach approximately 51% of total volumes sold in Europe and 60% of grey cement volumes.
FUTURECEM® also allows the production of Ultra High Performance Concrete.
The new low carbon cement sold from 2021 in Denmark and by 2030 throughout Europe.
New technologies: Carbon Capture
We are engaged in research on the potential of new technologies such as carbon capture, usage and storage in reducing CO2 emissions from the use of fossil fuels.
CORT Project
Purpose
The aim of the project is investigating various advanced amine solvents for carbon capture and new heat integration methods (heat pumps). Specifically, the aim is to find the best suited solvents for different carbon capture cases.
For additional information, please see Carbon capture Open tests and Review of Technologies (CORT) - Center for Energy Resources Engineering (dtu.dk).
| Total budget | Start and end date | Partners |
|---|---|---|
| The total funds for the project are € 2.6 million of which € 150,000 is funded by Cementir with co-funding from the INNO-CCUS partnership funded by the Danish Innovation Fund. | From 01-08-2022 to 31-07-2025. | Aalborg Portland, Pentair, Danish Technical University, Chemistry, Ørsted, Aalborg University, FORCE. |
Results
A test unit from the Danish Technical University (DTU) was established at the Aalborg Portland plant in October 2022 and it was removed in October 2023. Conclusions from gas analysis and gas purity measurements obtained and tests completed. Results for a broader audience are being prepared for sharing in April 2024.
ConsenCUS Project
Purpose
Show how a net-zero-carbon industry can be achieved by:
- Demonstrating the technical andeconomic viability of green electricity-based, energy-efficient CCU innovations in an industrially relevant environment.
- Investigating how CO2 networks in Northern Europe can cost-efficiently take the captured CO2 to end users, or permanent and/or intermediate storage.
For additional information, please see https://consencus.eu/
| Total budget | Start and end date | Partners |
|---|---|---|
| The total funds for the project are € 13 million of which € 240,000 is funded by Cementir and co-funded by the EU-Horizon 2020 programme. | From 01-04-2020 to 31-05-2025. | 19 partners from 7 countries. From Denmark: Aalborg Portland, DTU, GEUS and Dansk Gasteknisk Center. |
Results
On November 27th 2023, the demonstration plant was inaugurated during a short ceremony headed by the H.K.H. Kronprins and now HM King Frederik X, Ms. Simson, EU-commissioner for Energy and Mr. Aagaard, Danish Minister for Energy, Climate and Utilities. The opening event was part of the 3rd international CCUS FORUM. The CCUS FORUM is a robust stakeholder consultation platform established by the European Commission in 2021.
The test unit will operate at Aalborg Portland from November 2023 to February 2024.
Public deliverables of the ConsenCUS project area available at the link https://consencus.eu/results/
Portland CC Project
Purpose
This project is part of the CO2 Vision partnership. The aim was to provide an initial techno-economic assessment of two carbon capture technologies: the amine scrubber technology (reactive absorption-stripping) and the Chart/Sustainable Energy Solutions Cryogenic Carbon Capture™ (CCC) technology applied to one kiln in the Aalborg Portland A/S cement plant. The analysis provides an estimation of component costs for the configurations under consideration using the features available in Aspen Plus®, along with electricity cost estimations for 2021 and 2022. Moreover, a suitable formulation for estimation of the cost of CO2 was presented.
| Total budget | Start and end date | Partners |
|---|---|---|
| The total funds for the project were € 503,000 of which € 131,000 was funded by Cementir. This project is supported by the EU Regional Fund and the EU Social Fund, as well as the EU Just Transition Fund. | From 01-06-2022 to 31-08-2023. | Aalborg Portland, Aalborg University, Aalborg CSP. |
Results
Both the amine scrubber technology and the Chart Cryogenic Carbon Capture™ shown to be highly effective for capturing CO2 at high purity level and capture efficiency across gaseous and liquid states. The CCC technology, in particular, distinguished itself by offering a lower energy penalty, leading to reduced OpEx, and presenting lower initial CapEx compared to the amine scrubber technology.
During the project work some future research and development activities related to capture technologies were identified as including piping and networks between the capture process and transport and storage infrastructure. It was also suggested to look at integration of capture process with other domains e.g. district heating.
For additional information see: https://www.co2vision.dk/english/
This project has been carried out as part of the activities of the public-private partnership CO2Vision. This partnership brings together local industries, educational institutions, business organisations and local government with the aim of investigating the establishment of infrastructure for CCUS in North Jutland-Denmark, including the import of CO2 for onshore and offshore storage, as well as use for production of methanol and sustainable aviation fuel.
CO2Vision partners was awarded € 12.4 million from the Danish Board of Business Development in 2022 and € 6.7 million from the EU Just Transition Fund in 2023.
The consortium partners include Aalborg University, Aalborg Portland, Labour Market Office Mid/North, Business Region North Denmark, Business House North Jutland, Energy Cluster Denmark, Evida, Green Hub Denmark, North Denmark EU Office and University College North Jutland.
GreenCEM Project
Purpose
The core objective was to identify the most promising capture technology and make a concept study of an integrated carbon capture facility at the Aalborg Portland cement plant in terms of available thermal energy, flue gas composition and site logistics leading to the lowest possible carbon capture cost.
For additional information, please see www.greencem.dk
| Total budget | Start and end date | Partners |
|---|---|---|
| The total funds for the project were € 1.5 million, out of which € 500,000 were funded by Cementir. | From 01-08-2020 to 31-07-2022. | Aalborg Portland, Port of Aalborg, Aalborg Energi Holding, European Energy, Aalborg University, Cemtec Fonden (Hydrogen Valley), DFDS, Reno-Nord. COWI contributed as sub-contractor to Aalborg Portland. |
Results
The result of the project was a concept study for carbon capture. Two scenarios were investigated: 200,000 tons per year and 1 million tons per year captured CO2.
For additional information please see https://greencem.dk/konference/
MADE FAST Project
Purpose
Prepare a technical and economic analysis to investigate the factors (environmental, social, economic, regulatory) that could influence the carbon capture and value chains for utilisation and storage of CO2 from Aalborg Portland’s cement.
| Total budget | Start and end date | Partners |
|---|---|---|
| The total funds for the project were € 330.000 of which € 90,000 was funded by Cementir. This project was funded by the Manufacturing Academy of Denmark-MADE. | From 01-08-2020 to 31-07-2023. | Aalborg Portland, Aalborg University, Manufacturing Academy of Denmark (MADE). |
Results
The environmental analysis shows that it is possible to reach carbon neutrality when implementing CCUS if the cement facility operates with renewable energy and with a high share of alternative fuels. More details are provided in the following academic publication:
Preconditions for achieving carbon neutrality in cement production through CCUS
GASPER Project
Purpose
The project aims to demonstrate the full CCS value chain from a cement plant. This will be done by capturing and processing at least 20 tons of CO2 from the flue gas during a campaign in 2024. Measuring the quality of the CO2 and compare with existing standards relevant in 2024. In addition, evaluating the effect of impurities on CO2 transportation in a new 50 m long CO2 pipe test facility to prepare for CO2 infrastructure that can be implemented in 2025.
| Total budget | Start and end date | Partners |
|---|---|---|
| The total budget is approximately € 2 million of which € 600,000 is funded by the project partners, including Cementir with the rest funded by the INNO-CCUS partnership funded by the Danish Innovation Fund. | 2024 to 2026. | Cementir Holding-Aalborg Portland, Technical University of Denmark-DTU, Pentair, Teknologisk Institut, Dansk Gasteknisk Center, EVIDA, Gas Storage Denmark. |
NORNE Project
Purpose
Norne Carbon Storage Hub is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fidelis New Energy, and it consists of two reception facility sites in Denmark – one at the Port of Aalborg and one at the Port of Kalundborg. Norne is developing the CO2 pipelines and storage facilities to safely and permanently store CO2. Norne will receive and store CO2 from both Danish and European CO2 emitters in need of CO2 storage. The Norne hub will deliver significant climate impact by enabling CO2 emitters to permanently store their emissions.
In June 2023 Aalborg Portland signed a letter of intent with Norne, enabling the cement producer to potentially store CO2 to the Norne Carbon Storage Hub in Aalborg through a direct pipeline connection by 2030.
| Total budget | Start and end date | Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Not identified, yet. | 8th June 2023 – Not identified, yet. |
GREESPORT SCANDINAVIA Project
Purpose
Project for the implementation of a terminal for the transportation and storage of CO2.
| Total budget | Start and end date | Partners |
|---|---|---|
| This project has received € 14,6 million from the EU Just Transition Fund. | 13th June 2023. | INEOS Energy, Wintershall Dea, Evida, Biocarb Solution, Hirtshals Havn, Aalborg Portland, Greenport North, EUC Nord, Hydrogen Valley and Energy Cluster Denmark. |
SNAM-POLIMI-CCB Project
Purpose
Evaluation of variuos capture technologies: partial Oxyfuel with Hydrogen, Partial Oxyfuel with chemical absorption using amines and chilled ammonia.
| Total budget | Start and end date | Partners |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | March to December 2022 | SNAM, Politecnico di Milano, CCB. |
Results
Advantages and disadvantages of each technology were identified taking into consideration the specific conditions at the CCB cement plant. Relevant KPIs such as CapEx, OpEx and cost of CO2 avoidance were obtained for each solution. Further research suggests studying and concept design of an integrated project considering also CO2 transport and storage, leveraging on existing and announced projects (i. e. Fluxys) and continue with a feasibility study on the final solution.
CO2 INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BELGIUM Project
Purpose
The Belgian energy infrastructure company Fluxys is designing a CO2 pipeline in Belgium, collecting the needs of various emitters and routing such CO2 to different exit points. Cementir has clearly expressed its interest in being included in such an important project, aiming at optimising the method and cost of CO2 transportation and centralising liquefaction and loading facilities.
In 2022, CCB, the Belgian subsidiary of Cementir, signed a LoI (Letter of Intent) with Fluxys. For additional information about the CO2, infrastructure proposed by Fluxys, please see https://www.fluxys.com/en/energy-transition/hydrogen-carbon-infrastructure/carbon_preparing-to-build-the-network