Irish Cement to reduce fossil fuel use, plans WHR project
Irish Cement is currently preparing to replace fossil fuels at its Platin works in Co Meath, Ireland. The project started with a planning application to Meath County Council in November 2015, and will shortly be lodged with An Bord Pleanála for decision. At present, a series of public information briefing sessions is scheduled to take place between 2-4 March 2017.
The application is for planning permission and for a review of the industrial emission licence in Platin to allow for an increase in the quantity and range of alternative fuels and alternative raw materials to be used in both kilns. In 2016 the works reached a thermal substitution rate of 50 per cent and with the appropriate planning, hopes to raise this figure to 85 per cent.
In addition, the cement plant also plans to make use of excess heat from the production process to generate up to 7.5MW of power onsite or around a quarter of the plant’s electricity requirement. The project, for which the company received planning permission in 2015, will help reduce annual CO2 emissions.
"Platin will be the first cement plant in Ireland and among the first in Europe to install this type of technology. The benefits are that Platin will need less electricity from the grid, will make better use of existing heat and will improve competitiveness, helping to secure operations into the future," the plan states.
