Pilot CO2 capture system arrives at Alberta cement plant

Sources: Heidelberg Materials North America, Irving, Texas; CMCM staff

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has installed a compact carbon dioxide pilot capture system, CO₂MPACT, at Heidelberg Materials’ Edmonton cement plant. The pilot leverages the MHI Advanced KM CDR Process; supports testing of different fuel sources and various plant operating modes; and, enables Heidelberg Materials to validate the effectiveness of MHI technology on its specific flue gas. The latter is part of a two-stage competitive process to inform the final design of a carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) facility managing nearly all Edmonton plant CO₂output. 

The assembly affords Heidelberg Materials critical measurement of the MHI technology’s suitability to the Edmonton cement plant emissions profile.

Through a partnership involving Heidelberg Materials, the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta, the operation is expected to usher the first full-scale CCUS solution for the cement industry globally. Projected for late-2026 operation, the new facility will be engineered to capture more than 1 million metric tons of CO₂ annually from the cement production line plus the combined heat and power facility attending the capture process. At full operation, captured CO₂ will be transported via pipeline and permanently sequestered.  

“Alberta is widely recognized as a leader in developing CCUS technology thanks in large part to industry trailblazers like Heidelberg Materials,” said Minister Rebecca Schulz, who joined Heidelberg Materials and MHI teams in Edmonton to formally initiate the CO₂MPACT assembly.  “Our province has invested billions of dollars to help industry cut emissions and will continue to support practical innovations that create jobs and grow the economy.”

“This is a substantial milestone in our journey to building the world’s first full-scale carbon capture project in the cement industry,” added Heidelberg Materials NA Vice President of Cement Operations, Northwest Region Joerg Nixdorf. “This initiative focuses the cement industry’s decarbonization efforts on the Province of Alberta, and we are encouraged by this significant step to lead the sector in CCUS.”

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