Technology Roadmap Low-Carbon Transition in the Cement Industry

Box 4: Exploring scenarios that are more ambitious: Beyond 2DS

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20
Technology Roadmap
Low-Carbon Transition in the Cement Industry
The thermal energy intensity of clinker is reduced 
by 10% by 2050 in the roadmap vision, reaching a 
global average of 3.1 GJ/t clinker.
11
This is close to 
the reported best available technology performance 
levels (2.9-3.0 GJ/t clinker for dry-process kilns with 
a precalciner and a six-stage cyclone preheater) 
(ECRA and CSI, 2017; IEA, 2007). 
The specific electricity consumption per tonne 
of cement
12
is reduced by 14% globally by 
implementing efficient grinding and milling 
technologies for raw materials, fuel preparation and 
cement finishing. 
11. The thermal intensity of clinker does not include increases 
related to carbon mitigation levers beyond improving energy 
efficiency.
12. The electricity intensity of cement does not include increases 
related to carbon mitigation levers beyond improving energy 
efficiency. 
The shift towards alternative fuels that are less 
carbon intensive, with biomass and waste
13
increasing to 30% globally as a share of thermal 
energy by 2050 and displacing mainly coal and 
petroleum coke, contributes to the reduction of 
global direct energy-related CO
2
emissions of 
cement by 36% in the same period. Biomass and 
waste use in cement kilns increases sixfold by 2050 
in the roadmap vision, reaching about 3.1 EJ or 
almost half of current global coal use in the cement 
sector (Figure 6).
13. Waste includes biogenic and non-biogenic waste materials.
Box 4: Exploring scenarios that are more ambitious: Beyond 2DS (continued)
Figure 5: Global direct CO