Gary Moore, UNTHA Shredding Technology GmbH, highlights the global momentum behind alternative fuels and the role of advanced shredding in shaping cement’s low-carbon future.
The use of alternative fuels (AF) in the cement industry is not a new concept. Across the globe, solid recovered fuel (SRF) has gained widespread adoption due to its economic, environmental, and societal advantages as a substitute for fossil fuels. As engineering innovations advance – and regulatory, commercial, and environmental pressures intensify – the drive for more efficient fuel production continues to accelerate.
As such, the technology behind AF processing is becoming increasingly sophisticated, unlocking new opportunities for the cement sector and its supply chain. These developments improve cost efficiency, material flexibility, fuel quality, energy performance, maintenance simplicity, and operator safety.
Even experienced AF manufacturers are continually reassessing the shredding technology market to ensure they make the most strategic investments. Ageing installations are reaching the point of upgrade, while new pre-processing and co-processing facilities are being developed at pace. Meanwhile, fresh markets for AFs are emerging, often powered by shifting government policies or the cement industry’s drive for sustainable transformation. In these regions – where AF production remains in its early stages – the demand for expertise, guidance, and best practices is high.
Despite the rapid evolution of AF production, a universally accepted definition of ‘best practice’ remains elusive. This article, therefore, explores a range of international projects and market trends to provide a clearer picture of the landscape – empowering decision-makers to optimise their investments in shredding technology. While the AF sector is maturing, vast opportunities remain untapped.
A brief history on the utilisation of alternative fuel
The use of AFs within the cement industry dates back to the 1970s, when the oil crisis forced the need to consider a more affordable substitute energy source. Notable adoption, therefore, began in the 1980s.
But the ability to transform residual municipal, commercial, industrial, hazardous, and agricultural wastes into AFs actually presented multiple benefits. Cement kilns could reduce their reliance on ever-depleting fossil fuels, communities and supply chains had the opportunity to strengthen their waste management infrastructure, and crucially, energy could be recovered from materials that still contained inherent resource value. Considering the ever-growing demand for concrete – and the fact that global cement production reportedly exceeded 4 billion t in 2020 – these multifaceted environmental advantages have been welcomed.
Consequently, interest in AF production has risen over the last forty years, with ongoing research and development progressing in parallel. The goal now – as is often the case in most production environments – is to achieve ‘more with less.’
From a processing perspective, this means the ability to mechanically shred a greater volume and diversity of waste materials to achieve more varied output specifications, as defined by the cement end user. At the same time, operators are increasingly striving to reduce the amount of capital equipment required wherever possible – recognising that doing so protects their initial financial outlay and reduces their liability to ongoing maintenance costs. If the energy efficiency of such technologies can also be improved, the fiscal benefits are further strengthened.
Enjoyed what you've read so far? Read the full article and the rest of the June issue of World Cement by registering today for free!