CEMEX Creates 'Carbon Neutral Alliance' in Germany

CEMEX announced that, as part of its 'Future in Action' program, it is developing a carbon neutral alliance in Germany to test and accelerate innovative technologies to reach carbon neutrality at its Rüdersdorf plant.

CEMEX is joining pioneering industrial consortiums with the objective of developing industrial-scale demonstration projects utilizing ground-breaking technologies to form this alliance, which aspires to achieve carbon neutrality at the Rüdersdorf plant by 2030. Technologies like waste heat recovery, CCSU, synthetic fuels, and green hydrocarbons, and hydrogen production with renewable energy are being evaluated at the site.

"It is expected that CO₂ will be further processed to convert to new forms of energy and materials for use locally by industrial, residential, and transport sectors. Together with our partners, we will take feasibility studies through to economic solutions to decarbonizing cement production," said Stefan Schmorleiz, plant manager and managing director of CEMEX Zement GmbH.

The technological learnings derived from the Rüdersdorf "Carbon Neutral Alliance" should gradually be shared with the CEMEX global portfolio of cement plants and adapted to local conditions to accelerate its decarbonization goals of the cement production process. CEMEX is also applying to several European funds, such as the Innovation Fund & Green Deal Call, and national funding schemes for financial support and funding for these innovations, potentially providing best practices to other industrial players.

Aligned to the vision of the European Commission's Green Deal and climate aspirations, CEMEX communicated its vision for carbon neutrality last year.

"Having already achieved a 35 % reduction in CO₂ emissions from 1990, 10 years ahead of the original target, our aspiration now moves to accelerate towards 55 % by 2030 in Europe and to deliver carbon neutral concrete globally by 2050. We believe that driving down the CO₂ footprint of our operations and products is urgent and critical for our industry. Together with our industrial partners, we are transforming our products and solutions in a collective ambition for a more sustainable world," said Sergio Menendez, President of CEMEX Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia.