Leilac-2 low carbon cement facility to relocate

An experimental cement plant which many consider to be the best hope for the wholesale decarbonisation of cement production is to be relocated from its original planned site in Hannover, Germany.

The Leilac-2 cement plant, which is commercialising new kiln technology from technology developer Calix enabling the capture of CO2 in the manufacture of cement and lime, was to have been developed at a HidelbergCement’s operational plant in Hannover (pictured).

However following Heidelberg’s decision to end clinker production at the site, the project will now be built at another site belonging to associated company Heidelberg Materials.

The plant is supported by grants from the European Union Horizon 2020 scheme which aim to reduce emissions from cement and lime production – one of the biggest industrial emitters of greenhouse gasses.

Leilac-2 has already passed its Financial Investment Decision (FID) for the construction of a demonstration plant with a target capture capacity of 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year at very low cost.

Calix is also working with Australian materials groups Adbri and Boral to develop low emissions industrial facilities.

Heidelberg said the decision to shut down clinker production was made due to a ‘substantial decline in cement sales following weak construction demand in Germany due to the current economic environment as well as a stronger alignment of the company’s cement portfolio towards low-carbon products, leading to the production of cement with reduced clinker content’.

Calix and its subsidiary Leilac are working with Heidelberg to identify a new site.

According to Calix Leilac-2 is well advanced with engineering work complete and was on track for construction in 2024.

Calix said: “It has delivered a unique and elegant modular design that aims to demonstrate an efficient, economic and scalable solution for the cement and lime industries to capture their unavoidable process emissions and provide flexible future-proof fuel opportunity.

“It also aims to demonstrate a technology that can be retrofitted to an operational cement plant with no downtime.”

Calix Managing Director Phil Hodgson said once a site was chosen an additional six months of site integration would be necessary.

Further reading:
Calix low emissions cement technology gets green light
Calix raises funds for Boral and Adbri low-emission industrial plants

Picture: Calix/Leilac-2