CCUS Technology: A Crucial Pathway to
Carbon Neutrality in the Cement Industry
On May 24, 2024, the China Building Materials Federation and the Beijing Representative Office of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) co-hosted the "International Symposium on the Application and Development of CCUS in the Cement Industry" in Beijing. The symposium invited domestic and international experts to introduce the current development status of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) emission reduction technology in the cement industry. In-depth discussions were held on the management methods of captured carbon in transportation, utilization, and storage, as well as industry concerns about whether captured carbon can compensate for enterprise carbon quotas in the carbon market. The aim was to better leverage the climate and economic benefits of CCUS technology in the cement industry.
Over 40 representatives from various organizations attended the symposium, including the Global Cement and Concrete Association, the Global CCS Institute, China National Building Material Group, BBMG Group, Conch Group, Huaxin Cement, China Resources Cement Technology, the Administrative Center for China’s Agenda 21, the Carbon Neutral Research Institute of Dalian University of Technology, Taiwan Cement, Tianjin Cement Industry Design & Research Institute, China United Cement, Tangshan Jidong Cement, Beijing Building Materials Academy of Science Research, Beijing Jinyu Beishui Environmental Technology, China National Building Material International Engineering, etc.
Zhou Liwei, Director of Standards and Quality and Deputy Secretary-General of the China Building Materials Federation, and Pan Zhiming, Director of China City Project, NRDC, attended and delivered speeches. The symposium was hosted by Cao Yuanhui, Deputy Director (acting) of the Standards and Quality Department of the China Building Materials Federation, and Zhao Xilong, Project Manager of China City Project, NRDC.
CCUS technology is regarded as a key measure for achieving carbon neutrality in the cement industry. Following China’s "dual carbon" goals, the "1+N" policy documents have set development requirements for the application of CCUS technology in the cement sector. However, CCUS faces multiple challenges in commercial development and industrial deployment. Investment in carbon capture projects within the cement industry is substantial, with low economic returns. Currently, only a few enterprises have initiated pilot projects, and the existing capture capacity falls significantly short of industry forecasts, leading to a slow rollout of CCUS projects.
Zhou Liwei, Chief Standards and Quality Officer and Deputy Secretary General of CBMF, noted that achieving carbon peak ahead of schedule has become a reality for the cement industry. However, achieving carbon neutrality remains highly challenging. CCUS is an essential technology for achieving deep carbon reduction and resource utilization. In recent years, the Federation has organized enterprises to participate in carbon removal technology projects through mechanisms like "open competition to select the best candidates" to undertake key scientific and technical problems. They have also developed technical standards and emission reduction assessment standards for CCUS in the cement industry, providing a "toolbox" for the application and promotion of CCUS technology in the building materials sector. Zhou expressed hopes for enhanced international cooperation to accelerate CCUS technology development in the cement field, aiming for near-zero emissions and contributing to the industry’s goal of “benefiting humanity.”
Pan Zhiming, Director of Urban Projects at NRDC, emphasized that the low concentration of CO₂ in cement production emissions leads to high capture costs. The current capture volume in China’s cement industry significantly lags behind the reduction targets necessary for carbon neutrality. Therefore, there is an urgent need to increase support for CCUS in the cement sector, mobilize enterprise enthusiasm, and expedite the demonstration and expanded application of CCUS.
Dr. Yang Xiaoliang, China Country Manager at the Global CCS Institute, discussed the global status of carbon capture and storage technologies, highlighting the policy-driven application of CCUS abroad. He covered mainstream commercial models, revenue sources, and the financing environment for CCUS projects, noting the economic challenges, long development cycles, and project complexity. He stressed the need for more policy and financial support to drive further development of CCUS.
Peng Xueping, Deputy Chief Engineer, Tianjin Cement Industry Design & Research Institute, introduced the technical features of the Qingzhou Zhonglian Cement oxy-fuel combustion technology, which increases CO₂ concentration in flue gas. This technology significantly reduces CO₂ capture costs and enhances capture efficiency, thereby lowering the operational costs of CCUS for enterprises.
Yao Fangxing, Director of the Policy Research Office at the Three Carbon Research Institute of Conch Group, shared the six-year construction and operation experience of the Conch Baima Cement CCUS project. He pointed out significant challenges in the development of CCUS technology in China, including the lack of large-scale integrated demonstration projects, insufficient driving force from construction entities, difficulties in cross-enterprise and cross-industry collaboration, and inadequate emission reduction benefits. He suggested accelerating the inclusion of the cement industry in the national carbon market and using market mechanisms to promote enterprise carbon reduction. Additionally, he called for more detailed policies within the dual carbon "1+N" policy framework to transform the environmental benefits of CCUS projects into economic gains.
Claude Lorea, GCCA Cement Innovation and ESG Director, presented global application cases of CCUS and carbon trading experiences. EU experiences show that incorporating CCUS into the carbon market and utilizing carbon trading can enhance CCUS profitability. She emphasized the need for more government policy support to foster new technologies and promote CCUS development. Additionally, she mentioned that implementing government low-carbon procurement policies could stimulate market demand for low-carbon products, driving carbon reduction from the production side.
During the roundtable discussion, participants exchanged views on international CCUS project support policies and market mechanisms, the status and vision of CCUS construction by various corporate groups, challenges in CCUS project construction and operation, policy needs, the development of industrial parks and carbon transport networks, and the accounting and trading of CCUS carbon reduction credits.
