LCA and negative emission potential of retrofitted cement plants under oxyfuel conditions at high biogenic fuel shares

Abstract The implementation of oxyfuel carbon capture and storage technologies in combination with use of alternative fuels comprising high biogenic shares is promoted as an attractive climate change mitigation option for the cement sector to achieve low or even negative carbon emissions. Here, we p...

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Main Authors: Otavio Cavalett, Marcos D. B. Watanabe, Kristina Fleiger, Volker Hoenig, Francesco Cherubini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2022-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13064-w
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author Otavio Cavalett
Marcos D. B. Watanabe
Kristina Fleiger
Volker Hoenig
Francesco Cherubini
author_facet Otavio Cavalett
Marcos D. B. Watanabe
Kristina Fleiger
Volker Hoenig
Francesco Cherubini
author_sort Otavio Cavalett
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The implementation of oxyfuel carbon capture and storage technologies in combination with use of alternative fuels comprising high biogenic shares is promoted as an attractive climate change mitigation option for the cement sector to achieve low or even negative carbon emissions. Here, we perform a prospective life cycle assessment of two state-of-the art cement plants, one in Sweden and one in Germany, under conventional and retrofitted oxyfuel conditions considering alternative fuel mixes with increasing bio-based fractions of forest residues or dedicated bioenergy crops. The analysis also considers effects of the projected changes in the electricity systems up to 2050. Retrofitting the cement plants to oxyfuel reduces climate change impacts between 74 and 91%, while with additional use of biomass as alternative fuel the cement plants reach negative emission between − 24 and − 169 gCO2eq. kgclinker −1, depending on operational condition, location, and biomass type. Additional emission reduction of − 10 (Sweden) and − 128 gCO2eq. kgclinker −1 (Germany) are expected from the decarbonization of the future electricity systems. Retrofitting the cement plants to oxyfuel conditions shows trade-offs with other environmental impacts (e.g., human toxicity, water and energy depletion), which are partially offset with projected changes in electricity systems. Our results illustrate the large climate change mitigation potential in the cement sector that can be achieved by the implementation of oxyfuel carbon capture and storage and biomass use as alternative fuel.
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spelling doaj.art-7d3c4fbc73cd40e4a6e1a61a60f6acd92022-12-22T03:21:26ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-05-0112111410.1038/s41598-022-13064-wLCA and negative emission potential of retrofitted cement plants under oxyfuel conditions at high biogenic fuel sharesOtavio Cavalett0Marcos D. B. Watanabe1Kristina Fleiger2Volker Hoenig3Francesco Cherubini4Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Industrial Ecology Programme, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Industrial Ecology Programme, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)VDZ gGmbHVDZ gGmbHDepartment of Energy and Process Engineering, Industrial Ecology Programme, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)Abstract The implementation of oxyfuel carbon capture and storage technologies in combination with use of alternative fuels comprising high biogenic shares is promoted as an attractive climate change mitigation option for the cement sector to achieve low or even negative carbon emissions. Here, we perform a prospective life cycle assessment of two state-of-the art cement plants, one in Sweden and one in Germany, under conventional and retrofitted oxyfuel conditions considering alternative fuel mixes with increasing bio-based fractions of forest residues or dedicated bioenergy crops. The analysis also considers effects of the projected changes in the electricity systems up to 2050. Retrofitting the cement plants to oxyfuel reduces climate change impacts between 74 and 91%, while with additional use of biomass as alternative fuel the cement plants reach negative emission between − 24 and − 169 gCO2eq. kgclinker −1, depending on operational condition, location, and biomass type. Additional emission reduction of − 10 (Sweden) and − 128 gCO2eq. kgclinker −1 (Germany) are expected from the decarbonization of the future electricity systems. Retrofitting the cement plants to oxyfuel conditions shows trade-offs with other environmental impacts (e.g., human toxicity, water and energy depletion), which are partially offset with projected changes in electricity systems. Our results illustrate the large climate change mitigation potential in the cement sector that can be achieved by the implementation of oxyfuel carbon capture and storage and biomass use as alternative fuel.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13064-w
spellingShingle Otavio Cavalett
Marcos D. B. Watanabe
Kristina Fleiger
Volker Hoenig
Francesco Cherubini
LCA and negative emission potential of retrofitted cement plants under oxyfuel conditions at high biogenic fuel shares
Scientific Reports
title LCA and negative emission potential of retrofitted cement plants under oxyfuel conditions at high biogenic fuel shares
title_full LCA and negative emission potential of retrofitted cement plants under oxyfuel conditions at high biogenic fuel shares
title_fullStr LCA and negative emission potential of retrofitted cement plants under oxyfuel conditions at high biogenic fuel shares
title_full_unstemmed LCA and negative emission potential of retrofitted cement plants under oxyfuel conditions at high biogenic fuel shares
title_short LCA and negative emission potential of retrofitted cement plants under oxyfuel conditions at high biogenic fuel shares
title_sort lca and negative emission potential of retrofitted cement plants under oxyfuel conditions at high biogenic fuel shares
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13064-w
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