Concrete, a product of cement, is the second most-consumed substance on the planet, next to water, with roughly attributing three tons of concrete yearly by every person on earth (State of the Planet, Earth Institute-Columbia University). Total emissions from the cement industry contribute as much as 7-8% of global CO2 emissions. As the largest cement producer, China accounts for about 55% of global production, followed remotely by India at 8%. Global demand for cement is expected to increase 12-23% by 2050 (IEA Report: Transforming Industry through Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).
A new collaboration and agreement between the
China Building Materials Academy, (CBMA) and Canadian-based
International CCS Knowledge Centre (Knowledge Centre) called the
“China-Canada Science & Technology Cooperative Action Plan” will witness simultaneous advancements in understanding and knowledge sharing of
carbon capture technology designed specifically to see
substantial emission reductions from the global cement industry.
This collaboration agreement is part of a bilateral science and technology cooperation between Canada and China first established in 2013 called “Canada-China agreement on scientific and technological cooperation“. The agreement syncs with goals of the Chinese government to achieve carbon peaking before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060 with efforts of the cement industry in China to accelerate innovation in low carbon technologies.
China and Canada offer complementary expertise. International cooperation can strengthen relations between the two countries. Through an Action Plan, the Canada-China Joint Committee intends to support joint initiatives that encourage technological commercialization for the purposes of accelerating economic growth, increase international competitiveness, and solve global challenges.
The first initiative, July 2021:
Carbon Capture Use Piloting with Cement Kiln Project will aid CBMA in applying the Knowledge Centre’s model and Front End Engineering Design (FEED) of a test platform—which has a carbon dioxide (CO2) capture capacity of approximately 155 kg CO2/per day. The project will be built and piloted on a carbon capture system that utilizes the post combustion flue gas from a producing cement kiln.
The Knowledge Centre will have an observer role to learn and gain insight on the characteristics of a cement kiln operation and its integration with a post combustion carbon capture system. The agreement grants the Knowledge Centre access to the operational data, such as further design, testing, data based on the modeling, emission-related information, and any improvements made to the CO2 capture test platform.
Through the carbon capture pilot platform, the CBMA is expected to adapt the application for potential scale-up to commercial demonstration with know-how that could be applied across the sizable fleet of the parent of CBMA: China National Building Materials Ltd. (CNBM)—world’s largest cement producer. The Knowledge Centre is currently completing a feasibility study on a full-scaled post-combustion carbon capture system on Lehigh’s Cement plant in Edmonton, Canada by applying the same model based on large-scale CCS experiences from the commercial coal-fired power plant, at the famed Canadian-based Boundary Dam 3 CCS Facility.
Quotes:
Conway Nelson, VP Strategy & Stakeholder Relations-International CCS Knowledge Centre-Canada stated, “The International Knowledge Centre is proud to be a partner in assisting the CBMA on its CCS development and deployment journey to help China realize its ambitious goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, which is positive for the world.”
Chairman Zhou Yuxian, Chairman-China Building Materials Group (CNBM)-China said, “The cement industry could only achieve carbon neutrality by carbon capture approaches. Deep GHG emission reduction objectives can only be achieved by adhering to the decarbonization technology route, by applying CCS technologies to capture the carbon dioxide emissions from various aspects of the production process.”
• 中国建材集团 周育先董事长：水泥行业要实现碳中和必然通过碳捕捉的方式，只有坚持脱碳技术路线，利用CCS技术尽可能吸收生产过程中各环节排放的二氧化碳，才有可能实现深度减排目标。
• Zhōngguó jiàncái jítuán zhōuyùxiān dǒngshì zhǎng: Shuǐní hángyè yào shíxiàn tàn zhòng hé bìrán tōngguò tàn bǔzhuō de fāngshì, zhǐyǒu jiānchí tuō tàn jìshù lùxiàn, lìyòng CCS jìshù jǐn kěnéng xīshōu shēngchǎn guòchéng zhōng gè huánjié páifàng de èryǎnghuàtàn, cái yǒu kěnéng shíxiàn shēndù jiǎn pái mùbiāo.
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“The Canada-China agreement on scientific and technological cooperation”, holds the Objective: To establish a framework for cooperation in scientific and technological research, which will extend and strengthen the conduct of cooperative activities in areas of common interest and encourage the application of the results of such cooperation to their economic and social benefit. Areas of Cooperative Activities shall be jointly decided in writing from time to time by the China-Canada Joint Committee (CCJC). China-Canada Science & Technology Cooperative Action Plan: a framework for cooperation in scientific and technological research. The Government of Canada recognizes the role of innovation in stimulating economic growth and supports research and development projects that can lead to job creation and enhanced standards of living for all Canadians. Environment Canada Government Sector will be an active contributor to this agreement. Science, technology, and innovation are fundamental to facilitating economic progress and development, and increasing enterprise capacity.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
Article Intrado GlobeNewswire titled “China-Canada Collaboration on CO2 Capture for Cement”: www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/07/08/2259962/0/en/China-Canada-Collaboration-on-CO2-Capture-for-Cement.html
Government of Canada webpage: Canada-China agreement on scientific and technological cooperation: www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/corporate/international-affairs/partnerships-countries-regions/asia/canada-china-scientific-technological-cooperation.html
China Building Materials Academy (CBMA): http://cbma.com.cn/en/index.jsp
IEA Report: Transforming Industry through Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS): www.iea.org/reports/transforming-industry-through-ccus
Photo on Intrado webpage: www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/84fbcfdd-0f35-4299-af06-d694a269dba0
PHOTO: CBMA:
Members Dr. Wang, Lan (the CCUS project leader), Dr. Liu, Sr. Engineer, Ms. Zhao, Director for R&D during May 2018 visit to the International CCS Knowledge Centre to discuss CCS on cement in China.
成员：汪澜博士（CCUS项目负责人）、刘博士（高级工程师） 赵先生（研发总监，于2018年5月访问 International CCS Knowledge Centre 讨论中国水泥行业CCS问题期间拍照留念。