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Cement
Reducing CO2 emissions while producing enough cement to meet demand is a global challenge, especially since demand growth is expected to resume.
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Key strategies to cut carbon emissions in cement production include improving energy efficiency, switching to lower-carbon fuels, promoting material efficiency (to reduce the clinker-to-cement ratio and total demand) and advancing process and technology innovations such as CCUS. The latter two contribute the most to direct emissions reductions in the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario.
In this scenario, global cement production stays relatively flat to 2030. Adopting material efficiency strategies to optimise the use of cement can help reduce demand along the entire construction value chain, helping to cut CO2 emissions from cement production. Therefore, demand in 2030 in the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario is 6% lower than in a baseline scenario in which no steps are taken to reduce demand.
Lower cement demand can be achieved through actions such as optimising the use of cement in concrete mixes, using concrete more efficiently, minimising waste in construction, and maximising the design life of buildings and infrastructure. Material efficiency efforts have gained increasing support in recent years.
CCUS will also be crucial to reduce cement sector CO2 emissions, particularly the process emissions released during limestone calcination. While current commercial deployment of CCUS is limited, there have been a number of innovation efforts underway in recent years.
In this scenario, global cement production stays relatively flat to 2030. Adopting material efficiency strategies to optimise the use of cement can help reduce demand along the entire construction value chain, helping to cut CO2 emissions from cement production. Therefore, demand in 2030 in the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario is 6% lower than in a baseline scenario in which no steps are taken to reduce demand.
Lower cement demand can be achieved through actions such as optimising the use of cement in concrete mixes, using concrete more efficiently, minimising waste in construction, and maximising the design life of buildings and infrastructure. Material efficiency efforts have gained increasing support in recent years.
CCUS will also be crucial to reduce cement sector CO2 emissions, particularly the process emissions released during limestone calcination. While current commercial deployment of CCUS is limited, there have been a number of innovation efforts underway in recent years.
Last updated Jan 6, 2022
Key findings
Direct CO2 intensity of cement production in the Net Zero Scenario, 2015-2030
OpenMore efforts are needed to reduce the direct CO2 intensity of cement production
The direct CO2 intensity of cement production increased 1.8% per year during 2015-2020. In contrast, 3% annual declines to 2030 are necessary to get on track with the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario. Sharper focus is needed in two key areas: reducing the clinker-to-cement ratio (including through greater uptake of blended cements) and deploying innovative technologies (including CCUS). Governments can stimulate investment and innovation in these areas by funding R&D and demonstration, and adopting mandatory CO2 emissions reduction policies.
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The IETS TCP focuses on energy use in a broad range of industry sectors with significant potential for emissions and cost savings. The IETS TCP work programme ranges from aspects relating to development of processes and energy technologies, to overall system analysis and energy efficiency in industry sectors.
