Reducing carbon emissions in the cement industry using effective measures based on countries' characteristics

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Industrial Ecology

Background:

• Cement production accounts for 5% of global CO2 emissions, primarily from pyroprocessing.
• Over 90% of cement-related CO2 emissions stem from pyroprocessing.
• Reducing these emissions is critical for global climate change mitigation efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To calculate pyroprocessing CO2 emission numbers (PCEN) for key cement-producing countries.
• To identify factors influencing PCEN variations across nations.
• To propose tailored emission reduction strategies based on country-specific characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Selection of four representative countries: China, the US, Australia, and Turkey.
• Calculation of PCEN for each sample country.
• Analysis of factors impacting PCEN and discussion of country-specific reasons for variations.

Main Results:

• PCEN values determined: China (884 kgCO2/t clinker), US (886 kgCO2/t clinker), Australia (828 kgCO2/t clinker), Turkey (913 kgCO2/t clinker).
• Identification of key factors influencing PCEN across the selected countries.
• Development of country-specific measures for PCEN reduction.

Conclusions:

• Tailored strategies are essential for effective PCEN reduction in the global cement industry.
• The study provides data and insights for improving energy conservation and emission reduction.
• Implementing proposed measures can significantly contribute to lowering the cement sector's carbon footprint.