“The most recent funding round from the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund is a big step toward encouraging low-carbon innovation across industries. Businesses may now make a significant contribution to the UK’s net-zero objectives because to the IETF’s backing of revolutionary technologies like large-scale carbon capture.
The urgency to decarbonise the cement industry cannot be overstated. Contributing 8% of all global CO₂ emissions, the sector requires immediate action, particularly as 2024 marked the first year global warming surpassed the 1.5°C threshold. Hanson Cement’s CCS project exemplifies the decisive measures needed to tackle this crisis and demonstrates how carbon capture technology can be effectively deployed to mitigate emissions. As the only currently viable and scalable solution to decarbonising cement production, CCS offers the most likely pathway to significantly reducing the industry’s carbon footprint.
As outlined in the World Cement Association’s latest white paper, global demand for cement and clinker is projected to decline sharply by 2050. However, the sector remains one of the largest industrial emitters of CO₂, and the scale of emissions from remaining production necessitates the swift adoption of technologies like CCS, greater use of alternative fuels, and adoption of low-carbon binders for concrete. These measures are not merely about meeting demand more sustainably but are essential for mitigating the substantial emissions footprint that persists even as production slows. Industry collaboration and robust policy support will be critical in accelerating the transition to a decarbonised future.”
The full white paper provides an in-depth analysis of the sector’s decarbonisation challenges and opportunities.
