Accelerating the Sustainable Future for Cement and the Wider Value Chain: European Cement Decarbonisation Summit 2024
As the global push for sustainability intensifies, the cement industry stands at a critical juncture. This October, the key hub of Hamburg will host a landmark event in the sector‘s journey – ACI‘s European Cement Decarbonisation Summit 2024. This two-day conference, scheduled for October 30-31, aims to be a catalyst for change, bringing together the key players and new innovations in the cement and construction world.
A Stellar Line-up of Speakers
The event will incorporate the full range of expertise to unpack the challenges and opportunities of cement decarbonisation. Sebastian Reiter, Partner at McKinsey & Company, will kick off the proceedings with a keynote address analysing market projections and the outlook of decarbonised cement. This will set the stage for two days of insightful discussions and presentations.
A panel discussion on improving efforts for 2030 and 2050 targets and regulations will feature industry heavyweights including Vincent Michel, Go4Zero Programme Director at Holcim Group, and Ignacio Machimbarrena, Chief Innovation Officer at Cementos Molins. Their expertise will be crucial in unpacking the EU‘s CO2 roadmap and addressing the challenge of ensuring low-carbon cement meets legal construction standards.
Cutting-edge Technologies and Strategies
The summit will spotlight ground breaking technologies reshaping the industry. Conor O‘Riain from Ecocem will present on scaling low clinker cements, showcasing how their ACT technology can achieve a 70% CO2 reduction compared to average European cement. Daniel Summerbell, Chief Solutions Officer at Carbon Re, will delve into how AI is revolutionizing the pyroprocess to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions in plants globally.
Georg Locher, Managing Director of New Technologies at Schwenk Zement, will lead a session on enhancing carbon management for cement production. This will be complemented by Burçin Temel McKenna, Global Head of Carbon Capture at Ramboll Group, who will discuss improving the safety and efficiency of CCUS using the right instrumentation.
Alternative Fuels and Energy Efficiency
A key focus of the summit will be exploring alternative fuels for decarbonized cement. Svenja Baetz, Director of International Business Development at Brüning Group, will discuss how renewable fuel types can support decarbonization efforts. Andres Ponce, CEO of WtEnergy, will present on the potential of syngas to enable significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
The summit will also address energy efficiency and process optimisation. Peter Breithaupt, Scientific Officer at the European Commission, and Davide Zampini, VP of Global R&D at Cemex, will share insights on the latest developments in this crucial area.
Project Developments and Cross-Industry
Collaboration
Day two of the summit will feature presentations on key project developments and upgrades in decarbonisation. Aris Tsikouras, Director of Decarbonisation Strategy at Titan Cement, will provide an overview of the latest project landscape, while Hanne Kvamsdal, Senior Research Scientist at SINTEF, will discuss the qualification of the CESAR1 solvent for commercial deployment.
The event will conclude with a panel discussion on cementing relations across the wider value chain and Europe. Panelists include Diana Casey, Executive Director of energy and climate change at the Mineral Products Association, and Hervé Camerlynck, Managing Director of FEBELCEM.
www.wplgroup.com/aci/event/cement-decarbonisation/
