CO2 Capture in the Cement Industry

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is one opportunity for further major reductions in emissions, and the industry is currently considering the feasibility of applying this technique in order to plan for the future. In many ways the cement industry represents a good opportunity for CCS because cement plants are relatively large point sources of CO2. The CO2 concentration in cement plants' flue gas is relatively high, and over 60 per cent of total CO2 emissions from a modern cement plant are from mineral decomposition. This cannot be avoided by use of alternative energy sources. This study assesses the technologies that could be used to capture CO2 in cement plants and their performance and costs.