Full-scale CCS feasibility study in Canada

HeidelbergCement to research full-scale carbon capture and storage at Edmonton cement plant

LEHIGH Cement, HeidelbergCement’s North American subsidiary, and the International CCS Knowledge Centre have announced a feasibility study on a full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) project as a definitive solution to cut greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.

The study will target the feasibility of capturing the majority of the CO2 from the flue gas of Lehigh’s cement plant in Edmonton, Alberta, thereby significantly reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from cement production.

The study will encompass engineering designs, cost estimation and an extensive business case analysis. Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) is supporting the initiative with C$1.4 million (c.€960,000).

‘This is a North American first in the cement industry to examine the feasibility of full-scale CCS as a definitive solution to cut greenhouse gas emissions,’ says Dr Bernd Scheifele, chairman of the managing board of HeidelbergCement.

‘A 90–95% CO2 capture rate is targeted at our Edmonton cement plant. The project is another important milestone on our path to become carbon neutral in concrete by 2050 at the latest.’

Earlier this year, HeidelbergCement and state-owned Norwegian energy group Equinor signed a memorandum of understanding on CCS of CO2 at the company’s Norcem cement plant in Brevik, Norway.

HeidelbergCement are set to reduce their specific net CO2 emissions per tonne of cement by 30% (compared with 1990 levels) by 2030.

This target has been approved by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) and is in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement, making HeidelbergCement the first cement company worldwide to have approved science-based CO2 reduction targets.