By optimizing the amount of clinker in cement to incorporate more limestone, we can reduce the amount of energy (and associated emissions) used to heat clinker (the main ingredient in cement) and ultimately produce cement. Portland limestone cement offers the same durability and resiliency benefits of any other Portland cement, while reducing embodied CO2 by 10%. It’s really unfortunate, because there’s almost a regulatory disincentive against beneficial use of alternative fuels. US cement plants began adopting alternative fuels as early as the 1970s, but today these fuels only make up about 15% of the fuel used by domestic cement manufacturers due to outdated/burdensome regulations. Today, alternative fuels make up only about 15% of the fuel used by domestic manufacturers, compared to more than 36% in the European Union, including as high as 60% in Germany. In order for non-hazardous waste to be rerouted from landfills to industries such as cement to use for fuel, we’ll need regulatory reform and the recognition from policymakers that the increased use of alternative fuels is consistent with meeting mid-century climate goals. Through this increased access, alternative fuels including fly ash, carpet remnants, tires, and other non-hazardous materials are not only helping to reduce emissions, but also diverting materials that would be otherwise sent to a landfill.Ĭement kilns are extremely efficient at combusting any fuel given their extremely high operating temperature, and they can maintain emissions at or below the levels from more traditional fossil fuels. Rick Bohan: Increasing access to alternative fuels, especially materials that otherwise end up in landfills, for industry can have a dramatic and immediate impact. Currently, many cement plants are reliant on non-renewable resources to power plants, but that could be mitigated by increasing access to alternative fuel sources. Investing in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology and critical infrastructure to support CCUS, including a robust and smart electric grid.Įlectrek: Could you describe how those examples will work in real terms? Rapidly driving the adoption of innovative products like Portland limestone cements (PLC), performance-based concrete mixtures, blended cements and more Increasing access to alternative fuels, especially materials that otherwise end up in landfills, for cement plants to use A few examples of the actions included in the road map are: Rick Bohan: The road map being developed by PCA on behalf of the cement industry will include the full concrete value chain – from the production of cement through the use of concrete across the nation. Urgent action is necessary so cement and concrete can continue to play a critical role in the US’s infrastructure future without making emissions worse.Įlectrek: What are some examples of steps that PCA’s road map will likely include to achieve carbon neutrality across the concrete value chain by 2050? The manufacture of cement accounts for 1.25% of US emissions.Ĭement is the key ingredient in concrete, so the forthcoming road map addresses not just cement, but concrete, too. Several major Chinese cement and concrete companies, which account for about 20% of China’s market, have also joined the pledge. On a global scale, GCCA also made the pledge to reach net zero by 2050 today. PCA is aligned with the Global Cement and Concrete Association ( GCCA), which represents 40 of the world’s biggest producers and about 80% of the industry outside China. Bohan discussed this in his original Q&A with Electrek below. October 12 update: PCA today released its “ Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality,” which lays out the US net zero plan across the cement and concrete value chain by 2050. In November 2020, PCA announced an industry-wide ambition to develop a road map by the end of 2021 to help its member companies achieve carbon neutrality across the concrete value chain by 2050. Cement is the second-most-used construction material on the planet. Electrek spoke with Rick Bohan, VP of sustainability at the Portland Cement Association (PCA), which represents 92% of US cement manufacturing production capacity and has distribution facilities in every continental US state.
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