Hydrogen in Cement Industry: Top 10 Projects & Companies

Green Hydrogen: Cement’s Unlikely Savior and the Race to Decarbonize Construction

Imagine a world where concrete, the very foundation of our cities, isn’t a major contributor to carbon emissions. Sounds like a distant dream? Not anymore. Green hydrogen, produced through renewable energy sources, is emerging as a crucial player in the cement industry’s quest for decarbonization. The cement industry is now exploring a move to a decarbonized cement production, using green hydrogen as a fuel source, a reduction agent, and a component in carbon capture and utilization systems.

Leading the Charge: Pioneering Hydrogen Installations in Cement

Here are ten examples of how green hydrogen is beginning to transform cement production, showcasing the industry’s commitment to exploring viable solutions for a sustainable future.

1. Heidelberg Materials Explores Hydrogen Use in Cement Production

* Company: Heidelberg Materials
* Installation Capacity: Not specified, study phase.
* Applications: Investigating hydrogen as a climate-neutral fuel mix in cement kilns.
* Source: HeidelbergCement produces cement with climate-neutral fuel mix …

2. Cemex Launches Low-Carbon Hydrogen Project with Thermal Plasma Electrolysis

* Company: Cemex
* Installation Capacity: Not specified.
* Applications: Utilizing low-carbon hydrogen produced via thermal plasma electrolysis for cement production.
* Source: Cemex Launches Low-Carbon Hydrogen Project for Cement …

3. Mitchell Cement Plant Carbon Capture Project

* Company: (Likely Heidelberg Materials, though not explicitly stated in provided context)
* Installation Capacity: Not specified, but a “largest carbon capture project to date.”
* Applications: While focused on carbon capture, the captured CO2 could potentially be used in conjunction with hydrogen for synthetic fuel production or other applications within the cement industry.
* Source: Cement and Concrete Companies Leading the Net-Zero Transition

4. Hydrogen Top-Up in Cement Kilns

* Company: Not specified
* Installation Capacity: Not specified
* Applications: Using hydrogen to achieve the high temperatures (ca. 1300oC) required in cement kilns.
* Source: Bay Hydrogen Hub – Hydrogen-4-Hanson – GOV.UK

5. Use of Byproduct Oxygen in Cement Production

* Company: Not specified
* Installation Capacity: Not specified
* Applications: Using byproduct oxygen from hydrogen production via water electrolysis to reduce the cost of carbon capture and storage in cement plants.
* Source: Decarbonization of cement production in a hydrogen economy

6. Enertrag Concrete Chemicals Project

* Company: Enertrag
* Installation Capacity: 3.5 GW (Namibia), 10 MW (Osterweddingen)
* Applications: Green hydrogen production for use in concrete and chemical processes.
* Source: Concrete Chemicals – Enertrag

7. Hydrogen for decarbonizing industrial heating

* Company: Not specified
* Installation Capacity: Not specified
* Applications: Using decarbonized hydrogen production methods for power generation and industrial heating.
* Source: Decarbonized Hydrogen in the US Power and Industrial Sectors

8. Calcium-looping CO2 capture unit

* Company: Not specified
* Installation Capacity: Not specified
* Applications: Adding power-to-gas system components to current production systems: a calcium-looping (CaL) CO 2 capture unit.
* Source: Carbon-neutral cement: The role of green hydrogen – ScienceDirect

9. Hydrogen for cement production

* Company: Not specified
* Installation Capacity: Not specified
* Applications: Hydrogen offers a low-emission solution for cement production.
* Source: Future of Hydrogen: Trends Shaping the Next Decade – Infomineo

10. Electrochemical process for sustainable cement

* Company: Not specified
* Installation Capacity: Not specified
* Applications: Sustainable cement: An electrochemical process to help neutralize cement industry CO2 emissions.
* Source: Sustainable cement: An electrochemical process to help neutralize …

A Swiss Army Knife for Decarbonization: Hydrogen’s Diverse Roles

The installations highlight the versatility of green hydrogen in cement production. It’s not just about replacing fossil fuels in kilns (as Heidelberg Materials explores). Hydrogen plays a role in carbon capture, as seen in the Mitchell Cement Plant project (likely Heidelberg Materials) where captured CO2 can be combined with hydrogen for other useful applications. Further, as noted by Enertrag’s Concrete Chemicals project, hydrogen can be integral in the *production* of greener concrete and related chemicals. The applications are broad and point to the transformative potential of hydrogen across the entire cement value chain. The hydrogen top-up in cement kilns demonstrates the need for hydrogen in achieving the high temperatures required for cement production.

Global Efforts, Local Impact: A Race Across Continents

The geographical distribution of these projects, although not definitively pinpointed in all cases, suggests a global effort. Cemex’s projects in collaboration with international technology providers indicates adoption in different countries. Enertrag’s project in Namibia (3.5 GW) shows an interest in large-scale green hydrogen operations and its role in creating synthetic fuels. European companies like Heidelberg Materials are actively exploring hydrogen as a fuel. The absence of specific locations for all projects suggests that the research and development phase is widespread, with various regions contributing to the evolution of hydrogen technology for cement production.

From Lab to Landmark: Gauging Technology Maturity

While many of the installations are in the study or pilot phase, they indicate a gradual progression towards commercialization. Heidelberg Materials, a major player, is actively studying hydrogen integration. The use of by-product oxygen from hydrogen production to reduce carbon capture costs signals that there is a push for efficient technologies. Projects such as calcium looping can be added to current production systems, showing a move to using carbon-neutral cement using green hydrogen in the process.

Building a Greener Future: Hydrogen’s Long-Term Promise

These initial installations are more than just isolated projects; they represent a paradigm shift in how we approach cement production. As green hydrogen production costs decrease and technologies mature, its adoption will become increasingly widespread. We can expect to see more integrated projects combining hydrogen production, carbon capture, and innovative cement formulations, ultimately paving the way for a truly sustainable construction industry.

The cement industry faces a huge challenge to reduce its carbon footprint, but the early adoption of green hydrogen shows a commitment to a greener future. As technology advances and costs decrease, expect to see even more innovation in this crucial field.