TotalEnergies and Holcim to explore carbon-free cement plant

TotalEnergies and Holcim in Belgium have signed an MoU to work together on the full decarbonization of a cement production facility being upgraded by Holcim in Obourg, Belgium.

Various energies and technologies will be assessed for the efficient capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) of around 1.3 million metric tons of CO2 emitted by the facility every year.

Each partner will contribute its best-in-class technologies and its know-how to explore and develop the project, including:

• An innovative new air-oxyfuel switchable kiln to facilitate the capture and purification of CO2 in the flue gases as part of Holcim’s upgrade of the current cement plant.
• The transportation and use of the captured CO2 by TotalEnergies for an innovative e-fuel producing scheme and/or deposit in geological storage in the North Sea

TotalEnergies will assess the development of renewable projects to power a new electrolyzer, generating the green hydrogen needed to produce e-fuels. This new renewable energy production capacity would also power Holcim’s new oxyfuel kiln, thus contributing to the decarbonization of the cement plant. Finally, the oxygen emitted by the electrolyzer would be used to fuel the new kiln.

Christophe Sassolas, Senior VP at TotalEnergies, said, “The unique, integrated and sustainable solution that we are looking to provide to Holcim for the full decarbonization of its cement plant emissions – with its range of technologies and new decarbonized molecules – is a first.”

Bart Daneels, CEO of Holcim Belgium, said, “CCUS is vital for Obourg to become the first net carbon neutral clinker plant in northwest Europe. We are very happy to work with TotalEnergies to accelerate the development of these CCUS solutions for GO4ZERO. By joining the first movers, we want to set the standards for future clinker manufacturing plants.”