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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 innovative near zero emission production routes. The latter two contribute the most to direct emission reductions in the Net Zero Scenario. Aligning with that scenario will require the development and deployment of technology that is not currently available.
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.
Technological innovation is needed to reduce cement process emissions. CCS is likely to play a critical role in decarbonising cement, as it would enable the capture of process emissions. Alternatives might involve making clinkers from non-carbonate sources to avoid these emissions altogether.
The other technology that sees wide deployment in the Net Zero Scenario is CCS. Capturing around 0.1 Mt of cement emissions today, CCS deployment needs to increase drastically over the decade, capturing almost 180 Mt in 2030.
Governments must make plans for the construction of infrastructure to transport and store captured CO2, as a lack of supporting infrastructure could significantly delay technological deployment and effectiveness.
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.
Technological innovation is needed to reduce cement process emissions. CCS is likely to play a critical role in decarbonising cement, as it would enable the capture of process emissions. Alternatives might involve making clinkers from non-carbonate sources to avoid these emissions altogether.
The other technology that sees wide deployment in the Net Zero Scenario is CCS. Capturing around 0.1 Mt of cement emissions today, CCS deployment needs to increase drastically over the decade, capturing almost 180 Mt in 2030.
Governments must make plans for the construction of infrastructure to transport and store captured CO2, as a lack of supporting infrastructure could significantly delay technological deployment and effectiveness.
Last updated Sep 27, 2022
Key findings
Direct emissions intensity of cement production in the Net Zero Scenario, 2015-2030
OpenCement emissions continue to rise, more investment in new technologies is needed
The direct CO2 intensity of cement production increased about 1.5% per year during 2015-2021. 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, such as carbon capture and storage and clinkers made from alternative raw materials. Governments can stimulate investment and innovation in these areas by funding R&D and demonstration, creating demand for near zero emission cement and adopting mandatory CO2 emission 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.
