CEMEX invest in breakthrough hydrogen technology

Company continues to pioneer adoption of clean hydrogen technology in the cement industry

CEMEX and CEMEX Ventures (the company’s corporate venture capital unit) have invested in HiiROC, a clean hydrogen production start-up company that has developed a breakthrough technology which uses thermal plasma electrolysis to transform biomethane, flare gas, or natural gas into hydrogen at a lower cost than competing solutions and without a CO2 footprint.

Founded in 2019 and based in the UK, HiiROC have developed a novel process that efficiently produces high-purity hydrogen and clean carbon black at superior temperatures and pressure. Investment in the company will allow CEMEX to continue to scale their hydrogen-injection strategy while ramping up the substitution rate of fossil fuels in production kilns.

CEMEX have been one of the pioneers in the adoption of hydrogen within the cement industry and, since 2019, have been using hydrogen to increase alternative fuel usage and improve thermal efficiency across their cement operations.

‘HiiROC’s solution is sustainable, scalable, cost-effective, and has strong growth potential inside the hydrogen ecosystem,’ said Gonzalo Galindo, head of CEMEX Ventures. ‘This investment is yet another important step in our transition from fossil to alternative fuels and towards achieving our Net Zero goal for 2050.

‘CEMEX is the clear industry leader in the use of hydrogen, and this partnership allows us to further expand our hydrogen knowledge in the ultimate quest to replace fossil fuels with hydrogen in our plants. With hydrogen becoming an increasingly attractive element for industrial decarbonization, we are excited to be one of the top companies in the cement industry to include a clean hydrogen production start-up in our investment portfolio.’