Solar energy set to help produce climate-friendly cement

Synhelion and Cemex have jointly developed a technology with the aim of decarbonizing cement manufacturing processes. The plan is to operate cement factories by way of solar energy rather than powered by fossil fuels. CO2 emissions released during production are captured and then used as the basis material for the production of synthetic fuels. The technology to convert CO2 into fuels was developed by Synhelion, which is a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH).

Synhelion works with what is known as a solar receiver, which is able to generate process temperatures of more than 1,500 degrees Celsius. “The CO2 emissions from cement manufacturing are mixed with the heat transfer medium of our solar receiver and integrated in the process”, comments Gianluca Ambrosetti, CEO of Synhelion, in a jointly issued press release from the two partners. “As we work in a closed loop, CO2 emissions can simply be extracted. Eventually, this excess CO2 is processed further into fuel”.

According to the press release, this technology is the first anywhere in the world to offer a comprehensive solution for the decarbonization of the cement industry. The two partners may be in a position to finalize this joint research projects as early as next spring. By the end of 2020, they will be looking to construct a pilot system at an existing Cemex cement factory.