Cemex deliver carbon-reduction measures at new Staffordshire plant

Alrewas ready-mixed concrete plant benefits from renewable energy sources including solar panels

CEMEX are embarking on an innovative renewable energy project at their new Alrewas ready-mixed concrete plant (Pyford Brook) in Staffordshire. The scheme which uses a 90kWh battery, along with solar panels, expects to reduce 200 tonnes of CO2 emissions on site.

As part of Cemex’s company-wide climate action programme – Future in Action – the Alrewas site installed the hybrid solar unit in a bid to significantly reduce CO2 and the plant’s operational costs.

The new facility at Alrewas opened in 2023 without mains electricity which means the site, until recently, has been exclusively powered by diesel generators. Keen to reduce CO2 and the reliance on fossil fuels, the operational excellence team were able to quickly reduce the night-time diesel generator usage by 68%, once the renewable power units were installed. 

Steven Coles, operational excellence manager, West Europe Materials at Cemex, commented: ‘Cemex is embracing all forms of new innovations and ideas in the quest to lower our carbon footprint. As our operations transition towards net zero, we are all enjoying the experience of designing and utilizing new technology, with batteries and other forms of renewable energy. 

'Cemex’s intensive training with the Renewables Institute has enabled us to skill up in this critical area. It is empowering to have completed several renewable projects over the past year and to now have more exciting projects in the pipeline.’

As a result of the success at Alrewas, a second battery and solar unit installation is now planned at Cemex’s Hamer Warren Quarry, in the New Forest, Hampshire. The same renewable energy technology will be utilized at Hamer Warren to reduce diesel consumption during the plant’s on-site pumping activities.