Tarmac a step closer to world-first zero-emissions lime plant
Buxton Lime Net Zero project passes due diligence phase with DESNZ as part of ICC funding scheme
TARMAC, in collaboration with Leilac, have moved a step closer to delivering the world’s first zero-emissions lime plant, having passed the due diligence phase with The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) as part of the Industrial Carbon Capture (ICC) funding scheme, track 1 phase 2.
The Buxton Lime Net Zero (BLN0) project aims to develop the world’s first commercial-scale zero-emissions lime plant which will use integrated carbon-capture and storage (CCS) technology. The project forms part of the Government’s plans to accelerate the UK’s decarbonization ambitions and kick-start the hydrogen economy.
The proposed plant would capture and store up to 20,000 tonnes/year of process CO2 produced unavoidably during the manufacture of lime. The lime would also be manufactured using clean hydrogen to fuel the kiln, eliminating any CO2 that would be emitted from traditional carbon-based fuels.
The chemical process to make lime from limestone results in the unavoidable release of CO2 directly from the raw material, with such process emissions responsible for the majority of the lime industry’s carbon footprint.
Leilac’s technology uses a unique indirect heating approach to keep unavoidable process emissions uncontaminated, thereby allowing their efficient capture as high-purity CO2 with no additional chemicals or processes required to separate gases from gases.
High-purity limes are essential for everyday life due to their use in pharmaceuticals and water purification. The net-zero lime produced from the project would be used in the UK and help lower the carbon footprint of this important domestic industry.
Seamus Lynch, managing director of cement, lime and packed products at Tarmac, said: ‘Achieving the UK’s legally binding net-zero targets will require significant development of new infrastructure and ground-breaking technologies such as those proposed through this landmark project. It’s therefore hugely encouraging to have progressed to the next step towards this proposed plant becoming a reality.’
Leilac chief executive officer Daniel Rennie said: ‘Leilac are delighted to be partnering with Tarmac to produce zero-emissions lime. As an essential material across a range of industries, the decarbonization of lime is an important enabling step towards low- and zero-carbon industry.
‘Demonstrating a viable and low-cost approach for the abatement of unavoidable emissions and the use of alternative clean fuel sources can provide a pathway for zero-emissions lime that balances social, economic and environmental sustainability.’
The BLN0 project is one of the many initiatives Tarmac is involved in as part of their wider Act Sustainability Strategy to support sustainable and low-carbon solutions across the materials and construction sectors.
