HeidelbergCement researches the use of climate-neutral fuels
in the United Kingdom

HeidelbergCement’s British subsidiary Hanson UK is taking part in a research project on the use of climate-neutral fuels for cement production. The project investigates the potential to reduce carbon emissions by switching from fossil fuels to hydrogen and plasma technology. The research project has been coordinated by the UK industry body the Mineral Products Association (MPA) and is funded by a £ 3.2 million award from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Cement production using hydrogen and biomass fuels on an industrial scale will be demonstrated at Hanson UK’s Ribblesdale cement plant. The research results will then be shared across the industry to maximise the environmental benefit of the technology. Simon Willis, CEO of Hanson UK, said: “Cutting CO₂ emissions is a key priority for us and we are delighted to be playing a leading role in this project”.

“We have been very effective across the Group in reducing our CO₂ emissions, partly through the steadily increasing use of alternative fuels,” said Dr Dominik von Achten, CEO of HeidelbergCement. “In addition to our activities in the field of carbon capture, use and storage, this project in the United Kingdom is an important step towards realising our vision of producing CO₂-neutral concrete by 2050”.

HeidelbergCement aims to reduce its specific net CO­₂ emissions per tonne of cement by 30 % compared to 1990 by 2030. This target has been approved by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) and is in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement, making HeidelbergCement the first cement company worldwide to have approved science-based CO₂ reduction targets. In 2018, the reduction achieved was around 20 %; in 2019, it was already around 22 %.

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