Through the process of combining hydrogen, plasma and resistive heating, Cemvision has reported being able to fully electrify cement production within rotatory kilns.

Cemvision is a Swedish company that is well-known for being a green cement producer and this company has recently reached an impressive milestone. This milestone was achieved after the company completed three parallel projects, which were all focused on developing the innovative technology that makes it possible to reduce energy consumption. This energy reduction is reportedly ‘more than half’ when it is compared to Portland cement production.

Right now, fossil fuels have been commonly used when it comes to producing cement, as they enable the process to reach the required 1,450°C which makes it possible to transform raw materials into clinker, which is cement’s core component. During the discovery process, Cemvision focused on exploring a variety of technologies whilst working towards completely electrifying cement production. Eventually, the company received enough conclusive results and decided to double down on green hydrogen, resistive heating and finally, plasma.

A study from Wärtsilä stated that, ‘In addition to lowering the carbon emissions significantly – from a sector responsible for 7% of global CO2 emissions – the approach also allows for grid balancing, which could potentially cut carbon emissions by 21% in the next 25 years.’

The purpose of this new product is to combine both performance and sustainability, whilst simultaneously offering low-heat hydration. Putting all of these things together, makes this product perfect for castings and rapid-hardening options when it comes to road paving. It was stated that the product is “ready for heavy traffic in as little as 10 hours.”

Cemvision commented that ‘the recent breakthrough can overcome past electrification limits to enable scalable, efficient production for major industrials.’

In a statement, the company stated, “Since cement accounts for 7% of global industrial energy – translating to roughly 2.6% of the world’s total energy use—the industry’s power balancing is a potential trillion-dollar question.”

Chief Technical Officer of Cemvision, Claes Kollberg, mentioned, “We prioritise versatility in electrical technologies, believing in a combination for energy utilisation and energy storage. Hydrogen, resistive heating and plasma can offer a versatile and feasible zero-carbon pathway across various production sites. Cemvision’s approach is not just climate-friendly; it’s highly pragmatic, resource-efficient and resilient.”

Oscar Hållén, CEO of Cemvision, said that, “For us, it’s all about reducing green premiums, making our products accessible without great surcharges and with competitive prices versus traditional Portland cement. Every decision we make is guided by that principle. At the end of the day, many of the green cement innovations currently researched in the market will have a hard time delivering cost-efficient products, or solutions that actually work. But there are practical paths forward that can make cement the most efficient way to decarbonise the economy.”