CEMEX Further Progresses Carbon Neutral Plans For Rüdersdorf Plant With Waste Heat Recovery Project

Global building materials supplier - CEMEX has made a further advancement in its efforts to achieve carbon neutrality at its Rüdersdorf cement plant by 2030.

the waste heat recovery project

The latest partnership in the Carbon Neutral Alliance will see the implementation of a waste heat recovery system at the site in Germany.

This waste heat recovery project, conducted in partnership with Orcan Energy, is a milestone on the road to climate neutrality, as it will contribute significantly to achieving savings in energy-related emissions well before 2030.

heat exchanger installation

A heat exchanger is installed in the pipeline downstream of the clinker cooler filter so that water is heated

The system will mean part of the waste heat potential of the clinker cooler gases is used for electricity generation in the future.

To facilitate this, a heat exchanger is installed in the pipeline downstream of the clinker cooler filter so that water is heated and then fed to six ORC modules for electricity generation. 

Plant commission

This electricity is then fed into the plant grid and thus covers part of the site’s own energy demand.

Commissioning of the plant, which is 50% subsidized by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, is planned for the summer of 2022.

Decarbonization

Sergio Menendez, President of CEMEX Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia, commented, “Efforts to achieve carbon neutrality at our Rüdersdorf cement plant by 2030 continue apace, and this project to install a waste heat recovery system is the latest significant milestone in our journey."

Sergio Menendez adds, "It further demonstrates the value of forming expert alliances to investigate and then implement innovative technologies that will ensure the decarbonization of our operation.”

Simple contribution

We are proud to have been selected by CEMEX as a partner for waste heat recovery"

Dr. Andreas Sichert, CEO and Co-Founder of Orcan Energy, added, “After working with several family-owned companies in the cement industry, we are proud to have been selected by CEMEX, a global cement company, as a partner for waste heat recovery."

"With our efficiency packs, we will make a simple but significant contribution to avoiding CO2 emissions and generating low-cost green electricity from waste heat at Germany's largest cement plant."

Reducing CO2 emissions

"We look forward to this plant design being rolled out globally. For us, this is another important step in establishing ourselves in a promising growth market.”

Globally, CEMEX has committed to reducing its CO2 emissions by 35% by 2025 and 40% by 2030, with its European operations being the first to align with the EU’s aspiration to reduce CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030 as part of its ‘Future In Action’ strategy committed to net zero CO2.