Holcim wants to produce more environmentally friendly cement with new kilns
Published: Tuesday, Apr 23rd 2024, 16:30
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Swiss cement manufacturer Holcim presented a new type of kiln that works without fossil fuels at its plant in Eclépens VD on Tuesday. The Group wants to produce in a less environmentally harmful way in future and is focusing in particular on waste.
"It is possible to do without oil," said François Girod, head of the Vaud site, during a visit organized for the media in Eclépens, where one of Holcim's three cement factories in Switzerland is located. He emphasized that Holcim already burns various types of waste, such as old tires, to fire its cement kiln at up to 2000 degrees.
Among the various alternative fuels, the company now relies heavily on non-recyclable plastic waste. Two storage halls are currently being built in Eclépens and the furnace is being adapted so that it can be put into operation in the summer.
"The cement plant will then be able to work with a fuel mix based 100 percent on non-recyclable waste," explained Girod.
Thanks to this investment of almost CHF 10 million, the Vaud cement plant will emit 40,000 net tons less CO2 per year. This corresponds to around 12 percent of current emissions.
New recipes
Holcim is also trying to develop new "cement formulations and new product ranges" with lower CO2 emissions. According to Holcim, there are also technical solutions here.
However, Stéphane Pilloud, Head of Holcim Western Switzerland, still has "reservations" among some builders. "We are trying to change their point of view and prove to them that other types of concrete, such as recyclable ones, are just as good," he emphasized.
The Swiss cement industry wants to become climate-neutral by 2050. To achieve this goal, Holcim is also working on carbon capture projects. "This will be the ultimate tool, considering that it is impossible to burn rock without emitting even the slightest amount of CO2," explained Pilloud.
The cement industry is considered a major "climate sinner". According to a British study from 2018, it is responsible for eight percent of global CO2 emissions.
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