Technology Roadmap Low-Carbon Transition in the Cement Industry

Regional implementation to 2030
Growing cement production presents two energy 
efficiency benefits. These are the acceleration of 
the adoption of state-of-the-art technology in new 
plants and the decrease in the energy intensity of 
the average size of cement plants, because new 
facilities tend to be designed at higher capacities.
The RTS captures regional policy developments 
that already have a considerable impact on energy 
intensity, such as the Chinese government’s target 
to reach a 3.07 GJ/t clinker national average by 
2020, included in the 13th
Five-Year Plan (2016-20). 
This represents a 1%
22
annual reduction in the 
specific thermal energy demand of clinker from 
2014, which is equivalent to about two-thirds of the 
effort to reach best thermal energy performance 
levels. Achieving this target relies on an excess 
capacity management strategy that prioritises best 
energy performing facilities, in the present Chinese 
context of expected decreasing cement production.
22. Calculated as CAGR.
Figure 8: Global aggregated thermal energy intensity of clinker and 
electricity intensity of cement production in the 2DS
Notes: 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 of clinker basis so that its order of magnitude can be compared to the thermal energy intensity of clinker 
production. Post-combustion carbon capture technologies are deployed in the cement stock only in the low-variability case, with 
oxy-fuel capture technologies dominating carbon capture equipment roll-out in the high-variability case. For more information on the 
differences among carbon capture technologies, please refer to the section below on carbon capture, storage and utilisation.
AF = alternative fuel.
Sources: Base year data from CII, WBCSD and IEA (forthcoming), 
Status Update Project from 2013 Low-Carbon Technology for the Indian 
Cement Industry
; 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
; data submitted via personal communication by Sinoma Research Institute and 
China Cement Association (2016-17).
0
0
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
2014
2030 - 2DS
2050 - 2DS
G
J/
t
cl
in
k
e
r
0
0
20
20
40
40
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
2014
2030 - 2DS
2050 - 2DS
kW
h
/t
ce
m
e
n
t
Low-variability case
Carbon capture energy impact
Clay calcination energy impact
Increased AF use energy impact
Energy intensity (only energy efficiency)
2014
2030 - 2DS
2050 - 2DS
2014
2030 - 2DS
2050 - 2DS
High-variability case
Low-variability case
High-variability case
KEY MESSAGE: Global cement production approaches best energy performing levels on average by 2050 in 
the 2DS. Energy efficiency improvements are offset by additional energy demands resulting from the use 
of other carbon mitigation levers beyond improving energy efficiency in that period.

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