Technology Roadmap Low-Carbon Transition in the Cement Industry

Technology Roadmap
Low-Carbon Transition in the Cement Industry
Regional factors such as moisture content and 
burnability of raw materials, typical clinker 
composition and average capacity of cement plants 
affect the thermal intensity of clinker. The electricity 
intensity of cement is also influenced by region-
specific product fineness requirements. In the 2DS, 
the regional spreads
23
of clinker thermal energy 
intensity and cement electricity intensity in the 
base year (3.07-5.71 GJ/t clinker and 81-116 kWh/t 
cement) are reduced by 2030 (3.00-4.56 GJ/t clinker 
23. The regional spread of a given indicator is defined in this 
context as the range between the minimum and maximum 
values within the regions analysed.
and 76-103 kWh/t cement
24
) (Figure 9). This is a 
result of cost competition across energy efficiency 
measures, stock turnover dynamics and different best 
achievable energy performance levels from inherent 
regional characteristics. Further regional energy 
efficiency improvements are required in the long 
term for the global average to reach best available 
energy performance levels by 2050 in the 2DS.
24. These energy intensity values exclude the impact of other 
carbon mitigation levers beyond improving energy efficiency.
Figure 9: Aggregated thermal energy intensity of clinker production and 
electricity intensity of cement production in the 2DS by region
Africa
0
1
2
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
0
20
40
60
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
2014
2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
0
20
40
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
5
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
America
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Europe
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Eurasia
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014
2014
2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Other Asia Pacific
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
5
2014 2030 - 2DS
2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Middle East
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
Carbon capture energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
3
80
3
60
80
4
China
100
4
India
100
Carbon capture energy impact
Carbon capture energy impact
Carbon capture energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
Africa
0
1
2
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
0
20
40
60
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
2014
2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
0
20
40
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
5
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
America
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Europe
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Eurasia
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014
2014
2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Other Asia Pacific
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
5
2014 2030 - 2DS
2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Middle East
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
Carbon capture energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
3
80
3
60
80
4
China
100
4
India
100
Carbon capture energy impact
Carbon capture energy impact
Carbon capture energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
Sources: Base year data from CII, WBCSD and IEA (forthcoming), 
Status Update Project from 2013 Low-Carbon Technology for the Indian Cement 
Industry
; data submitted via personal communication by Sinoma Research Institute and China Cement Association 
(2016-17)
.
Sources: Base year data from CSI (2017), 
Global Cement Database on CO
2
 and Energy Information
, 
www.wbcsdcement.org/GNR
; SNIC 
(forthcoming), 
Low-Carbon Technology for the Brazilian Cement Industry
.

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27
4. Carbon emissions reduction levers
Figure 9: Aggregated thermal energy intensity of clinker production and 
electricity intensity of cement production in the 2DS by region 
(continued)
Notes: Modelling results refer to the low-variability case. Electricity intensity of cement production does not include reduction in purchased 
electricity demand from the use of EHR equipment. The thermal energy impact related to the calcination of clay for use as clinker substitute is 
displayed in the above graph on a gigajoule per tonne clinker basis so that its order of magnitude can be compared to the thermal energy intensity 
of clinker production. AF = alternative fuel.
Challenges to implementation
z
Capital costs
can be significant. A considerable 
decrease in specific energy consumption will only 
be achieved through major retrofits, which often 
have high investment costs that are financially 
unviable.
Africa
0
1
2
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
0
20
40
60
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
2014
2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
0
20
40
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
5
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
America
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Europe
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Eurasia
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014
2014
2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Other Asia Pacific
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
5
2014 2030 - 2DS
2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Middle East
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
Carbon capture energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
3
80
3
60
80
4
China
100
4
India
100
Carbon capture energy impact
Carbon capture energy impact
Carbon capture energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
Africa
0
1
2
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
0
20
40
60
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
2014
2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
0
20
40
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
5
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
America
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Europe
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Eurasia
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014
2014
2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Other Asia Pacific
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
5
2014 2030 - 2DS
2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
0
1
2
3
4
2014 2030 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
Middle East
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2014 2030 - 2DS
k
W
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
Carbon capture energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
3
80
3
60
80
4
China
100
4
India
100
Carbon capture energy impact
Carbon capture energy impact
Carbon capture energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
Source: Base year data from CSI (2017), 
Global Cement Database on CO
2
 and Energy Information
, 
www.wbcsdcement.org/GNR
. 
Source: Base year data from CSI (2017), 
Global Cement Database on CO
2
 and Energy Information
, 
www.wbcsdcement.org/GNR
.
KEY MESSAGE: 
Energy intensity of cement manufacturing is influenced by regional characteristics such 
 
as raw material moisture content and burnability, plant size distribution and cement standards.
z
Operation system and operator upskilling
is 
needed to operate upgraded facilities. Energy 
efficiency is achieved by suitable operation, as 
well as the use of adequate process equipment. 
Advanced energy-efficient technology requires 
new operation and maintenance practices.

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28