Quinn Cement aiming to secure a sustainable future

Company looking to decrease imported fossil fuel consumption through use of locally sourced alternative fuels

QUINN Cement say they are aiming to further decrease their imported fossil fuel consumption through displacement with locally sourced alternative fuels.

The company has adopted the use of alternative fuels from local residual waste materials to co-fuel cement production as part of their drive to make a significant contribution to more sustainable manufacturing processes.

The introduction of solid recovered fuel (SRF) into the manufacturing process has already commenced, with the potential for the company to reduce their use of coal by up to 50% annually. The end result is one tonne of CO2 saved for every tonne of SRF used to replace fossil fuels.

This successful transition to SRF co-fuelling of cement production has led Quinn Cement to seek permission to further extend their alternative fuels licence.

In addition, Quinn Cement produce eco-efficient CEM II cements, which allow for the substitution of clinker in the final cement product with locally sourced raw materials, resulting in a further reduction in CO2 emissions associated with the product manufacture.

Where practicable, the company has a policy to move towards zero fossil fuel cement manufacturing over the next few years.

With the capacity to produce 1.4 million tonnes of cement a year, this move, along with the manufacture of eco-efficient cements, will make a significant contribution to sustainability, and position Quinn Cement at the forefront in the European drive toward a circular economy.

Speaking of the benefits of the proposed move, Quinn Cement’s general manager, T.P. Feehan, said the company was committed to growing a sustainable and environmentally friendly business.

‘We’re making huge strides towards closed-loop, zero-waste production methods, which not only benefits the environment, but also the local economy,’ he remarked.

‘We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously, and in line with direction from Europe, we’re investing heavily in improving our production processes to ensure maximum recycling and efficiency, thereby reducing emissions and waste.

‘By rethinking the way we produce, we are establishing a process that will achieve real progress towards sustainability.’

The application to extend the company’s alternative fuels license has been submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If successful, Quinn Cement will invest up to £5 million in upgrading their plant to allow further use of alternative fuel and alternative raw materials in the production process.