The Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) and the European Cement Research Academy (ECRA) have released their new "CSI/ECRA Technology Papers 2017" to update the perspective of available technologies for CO2 abatement and energy efficiency in the cement sector. The publication analyses existing and future technologies with potential to increase energy efficiency and decrease CO2 emissions in cement production, and also analyses their costs in typical future cement plants, conditions and expected development.

The report comprises 52 individual technology papers and also seven papers summarising the state-of-the-art and anticipated development in the following technological fields: Thermal energy efficiency, electric energy efficiency, use of alternative fuels, materials and biomass, reduction of the clinker content in cement, new binding materials, CO2 capture and storage (CCS), and CO2 use (CCU). Estimations on technology application in the cement industry are provided for the future years 2030 and 2050. The information is based on today’s technical knowledge, assumptions on its further development, new research literature, internet data, discussions with stakeholders and the expert knowledge available at the European Cement Research Academy.

The decision for the further development of the technology papers in 2017 was taken by the CSI in the light of the discussion and ratification of the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for the reduction of global warming and a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development. Furthermore, the technology papers 2017 were intended to incorporate information on alternative material and fuel use in the cement industry and to form a new basis for the Energy Technology Perspective (ETP) modelling project of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

CSI assigned the project to the European Cement Research Academy. ECRA provided its competency in the field of cement technology and has close links with key stakeholders of the cement industry and technology providers among its members. The CSI/ECRA Technology Papers 2017 comprise innovative technologies and updates of their former versions from 2009. They were successfully reviewed by the CSI project group and by international stakeholders,in particular experts from cement companies, researchers and international organisations.

“It is intended that the CSI/ECRA technology papers 2017 can now again serve as an important reference document for the development of further technology roadmaps in the cement sector. Such roadmaps will be agreed on by relevant stakeholders and will identify major barriers, opportunities and measures for the industry, financial partners and policy makers in order to accelerate the research and development of technologies aiming at increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” ECRA said in a statement.

The new report is available from CSI at: www.wbcsdcement.org/technology