Building materials provider Heidelberg says that Antoing is a state-of-the-art cement plant with one of the world’s best-performing kilns in terms of specific CO2 emissions, which was recently modernised and is ready to be used for the project with no further need for modification.
The second generation OxyCal concept combines the established Oxyfuel and Amine capture technologies in a hybrid unit that no longer requires an additional preheater tower. Heidelberg says this means a significant reduction in the need for structural steel and concrete, which considerably improves the resource efficiency of the system. Once operational, the project will reduce CO2 emissions from Antoing by more than 97%, equalling around 800,000 tonnes of captured CO2 annually.
“We are excited to add yet another pioneering technology to our CCUS project portfolio, and to build on what we have already achieved in terms of research and innovation,” says Dominik von Achten, chairman of the managing board at Heidelberg Materials. “From the Antoing plant alone, we will be able to offer more than 15 million tonnes of carbon-free cement to the construction market in the first ten years of operation. This is a key contribution to Belgium’s transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.”
With its geographical location more than 100km from the coast, Antoing would be the first inland cement plant in Western Europe to supply carbon-free cement. While the project will be focusing on the carbon capture process, collaborations will be established with various partners to transport and store the captured carbon, with the aim of creating a complete CO2 value chain. To support the construction of the capture unit, Heidelberg Materials says it will seek national, regional, and EU funding.
