Holcim’s cement works in Saint-Pierre-la-Cour, France, uses a combination of calcined clay to reduce clinker content required in the cement, and biofuels and waste heat recovery systems to heat the remaining clinker required. This combination has displaced 100% of fossil fuels from its calcined clay cement production process to deliver up to 500,000 tonnes a year. This cement works received funding from France’s ‘France Relance’ industrial decarbonisation fund.

Holcim’s cement works in Retznei, Austria, used alternative fuel in 96% of its fuel mix last year – virtually eradicating fossil fuels from its operations – and is working towards 100%.

JK Cement’s cement works in Muddapur, Karnataka, India, has increased its use of alternative fuels to 78%, and is completing the installation of a waste heat recovery system, which it expects to make the cement works 100% fossil fuel-free.

Huaxin, a global cement producer headquartered in Wuhan, China, has reached 40% and 60% alternative fuels (mainly refuse-derived fuels) at its Diwei Chongqing (2,500 tonne/day) and Huangshi cement works, respectively. In developing economies, certain alternative fuels are highly variable in materials and moister content, resulting in heating fluctuations that challenges consistent quality in clinker production. At Huangshi cement works, Huaxin uses AI and other technologies to adjust production processes in real-time response to changing fuel properties, allowing it to create consistent clinker quality.

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