The catch4climate research project has officially inaugurated the world's first research and development facility using the Pure Oxyfuel process for CO₂ capture from cement production. The project, developed by Buzzi/Dyckerhoff, Heidelberg Materials, SCHWENK Zement, and Vicat, marks a major step towards decarbonizing the cement industry.
Built at the Mergelstetten cement plant in Germany with an investment of more than €120m and without public funding, the facility has a clinker production capacity of 450t/day. Unlike conventional kilns that use air for combustion, the Pure Oxyfuel process uses pure oxygen, producing a highly concentrated CO₂ stream that makes carbon capture significantly more efficient. The first clinker was produced in May 2026, and the plant will now be used to validate the technology for future large-scale deployment across the European cement industry.
