Decarbonization Avenue : Decarbonizing cement industry

Innovation Insights

Use of industry waste (including hazardous waste) as fuel for clinker production

The first major use of alternative fuels in the cement manufacturing industry emerged during the mid-1980s. The primary goal in substituting fossil fuels was to enable the industry to remain economically competitive, as fuel consumption accounts for almost one-third of the cost of producing clinker. Any positive impact on the environment was considered an added benefit.

The waste used by cement plants as alternative fuel can be classified into five broad categories, which generally are associated with specific regulations and/or implementation constraints related to the materials: 

  • Municipal waste 
  • Biomass 
  • Non-hazardous industrial and commercial waste 
  • Other unclassified alternative fuels. 

Both research and international experience suggest that no single alternative fuel can, by itself, meet the entire thermal demand of cement manufacturing. However, a mix of different alternative fuels can achieve that goal.

Relevant for

  • Industrial EHS professional
  • Operations & maintenance professional

Innovation sector

  • Waste management

Web Resources

Increasing the use of alternative fuels at cement plants - International best practice

01-12-2017

Source:IFC

Website : Link

Innovation Category

Stakeholders

Industry


Feasibility study to use waste as fuel for cement factories

01-12-2015

Source: Climate Technology Centre & Network

Website : Link

Innovation Category

Stakeholders

Industry


Waste Tire as an Alternative Fuel of Cement Production Process in Iran

01-12-2013

Source:  Climate Technology Centre & Network

Website : Link

Innovation Category

Stakeholders

Industry


Guidelines on co-processing Waste Materials in Cement Production - The GTZ-Holcim Public Private Partnership

Source: Geocycle

Website : Link

Innovation Category

Stakeholders

Industry


Alternative Raw Materials and Fuels

Source: Heidelberg Cement

Website : Link

Innovation Category

Stakeholders

Industry


International Best Practices for Pre-Processing and Co-Processing Municipal Solid Waste and Sewage Sludge in the Cement Industry

01-07-2012

Source: OSTI

Website : Link

Innovation Category

Stakeholders

Industry


Domain

Renewable Energy

Energy Efficiency

Type of innovation

Core sciences & engineering

Stakeholders

University researcher

Corporate researcher

Industry

Cement