CEMEX Successfully Deploys Hydrogen-Based Technology at Its European Plants

CEMEX announced that it has successfully introduced hydrogen technology as part of its fuel mix in all of its cement plants in Europe. With an estimated US$ 40 million investment program, CEMEX is set to extend this technology to the rest of its operations around the world as soon as possible. Hydrogen emits zero CO₂ from combustion, enables further reduction of fossil fuels, improves energy efficiency and consequently is another milestone towards CO₂ emissions reduction targets.

The company executed initial trials of this technology at the Alicante Cement Plant in Spain in July 2019 and quickly confirmed its potential as a lever to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions. The technology was installed in 2020 at all cement plants in Europe. In 2021, CEMEX will roll out this solution to the rest of its regions of operations. Hydrogen enhances the cement kiln's combustion process, adding another relevant tool to the company's 2030 roadmap, designed to reduce CO₂ emissions in the short term.

“The fast adoption of this new hydrogen-based technology is a clear example of CEMEX's innovation efforts and its strong commitment to decarbonize the cement production process," said Roberto Ponguta, CEMEX Vice-president of Global Operations, Technical and Energy. "We continue to identify and deploy existing technologies which have a high potential to contribute to our sustainability goals, and hydrogen is a key lever.”

In 2020, CEMEX announced its Climate Action strategy, defining a global target of a 35 % reduction of CO₂ emissions per ton of cementitious products by 2030. For its operations in Europe, CEMEX also defined a 55 % reduction target, in line with what the European Commission set as a new goal for all its member states. To complement this strategy with a longer-term vision, CEMEX also established an ambition to deliver net-zero CO₂ concrete to all its customers globally by 2050.