Limak Cement successfully completes hydrogen tests in cement production
Published by Alfie Lloyd-Perks,
Editorial Assistant
World Cement,
Limak Cement, the leading cement group in Turkey, along with Air Liquide, a world leader in gases, technologies and services for industry and health, have successfully tested the first hydrogen-blended fuel supply at Limak Cement plant in Ankara. After these extremely promising trials, Limak Cement continues its efforts to lead the Turkish cement industry within the scope of decarbonisation road map targets.
Limak Cement aims at increasing the overall usage of high biogenic content alternative fuels and renewable energy by 2030 and has teamed up with Air Liquide to develop hydrogen application.
In the test phase carried out at Limak Cement's Polatli Anka plant in the course of June, hydrogen was successfully injected in the preheating tower enabling an overall 50% thermal substitution rate from alternative fuels. As such, this application is a first of its kind in Turkey and we believe, worldwide as it feeds low-carbon hydrogen in conjunction with alternative fuels to the inlet of the precalciner instead of the cement rotary kiln main burner.
The project is a milestone for the Turkish cement industry to reach the 2050 net zero target, which is in line with the ambition of the European Green Deal. Extrapolating these achievements to the entire plant i.e. kiln and precalciner beyond 2035, we expect that at scale, this new technology would lead to substantial reduction of CO2 emissions.
Adopting the technology in this lighthouse project at Anka Cement Plant when the application is used permanently would reduce 180 000 t of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions upfront annually compared to the use of coal.
Using the same high biogenic fuel mix in all Limak cement plants, will reduce 700 000 t in CO2 emissions annually.
Touching on the contributions of the project and the company's goals at the event held after the successful trial, Limak Cement Global CEO Erkam Kocakerim said: “The purpose of this investment is to experience safe and effective use technologies of hydrogen in our cement kilns and to increase the rate of alternative fuel substitution. We aim to operate the kilns in our 7 integrated cement plants with a low-carbon fuel mix between 2030 and 2035. I believe that this trial is of great importance as it is the first in the Turkish cement industry and the positive results will contribute to the rapid development of the hydrogen ecosystem in our country. Because in a successful low carbon hydrogen ecosystem, the supply-demand cycle and scale are as important as production technology. Our project on hydrogen technologies will continue with new phases.”
Air Liquide Türkiye General Manager Souhel Bousta about the collaboration:
“We are pleased to accompany Limak Cement in their decarbonisation journey. We are convinced hydrogen will play a key role in the transformation of energy and industry, and it will take partnerships such as this one to develop the whole ecosystem.”
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Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/04112024/limak-cement-successfully-completes-hydrogen-tests-in-cement-production/
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