Inspenet, August 7, 2023.
Synhelion and Cemex have achieved a remarkable achievement in their collaboration to develop a cement production fully powered by solar energy and have taken their technology to industrially feasible levels, including the continuous production of clinker, the most energy-intensive stage of the cement manufacturing process, using exclusively solar heat.
Collaboration for the production of cement with solar energy
Both companies have been collaborating to integrate concentrated solar thermal power (CST) technology into the cement manufacturing process, reaching the first successful laboratory-scale demonstration pilot in 2022 by producing the first solar clinker.
Now, the technology has taken great strides towards its large-scale application. Moving from a small-scale pilot to continuous production under plant-like conditions confirms the enormous potential of this technology for the market. With this milestone in place, Synhelion and Cemex are moving forward with plans to build a solar-powered industrial-scale cement pilot plant .
Clinker, the main component in the production of cement, is obtained by fusing limestone, clay and other materials in a rotary kiln at temperatures close to 1,500° Celsius. In the past, fossil fuels were used to heat the furnace, which accounted for approximately 40% of direct CO 2 emissions.
Innovative and promising technology
Synhelion’s innovative technology provides high-temperature process heat in excess of 1,500° Celsius, enough to produce clinker without using fossil fuels .
Furthermore, this technology creates the right conditions to separate and capture any remaining CO 2 generated during calcination, achieving a very high concentration with minimal additional effort.
The company claims that the successful adoption of Synhelion’s technology in cement manufacturing will enable the complete replacement of the use of fossil fuels , which will have a significant impact on reducing carbon emissions. In addition, this technology will facilitate a more efficient and cost-effective carbon capture process compared to current state-of-the-art technologies.
Recently, the collaboration between Synhelion and Cemex has been widely recognized. The United States Department of Energy has awarded a significant sum of US$ 3.2 million to Solar MEAD, a joint project between Cemex, Sandia National Laboratories and Synhelion, with the purpose of investigating conditions to maximize heat transfer to the raw cement mix. This award reinforces the enormous potential of this revolutionary approach to the production of ecological and sustainable cement.
Source and photo: https://ecoinventos.com/primera-planta-cemento-solar-produce-a-escala-industrial/
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