China: Researchers at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University have produced clinker by burning fuel containing 20% post-consumer wood-derived fuel (WDF), reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 16% compared to the same fuel blend without WDF, at no cost to product quality. VerticalNews has reported that the combustion also emitted mercury, cadmium, thallium and other heavy metals respectively at a rate of 2%, 21%, 6% and 7% of China’s specified limits.

The findings follow research from Tsinghua University aimed at ascertaining the total process-related, direct fossil fuel-related and indirect electricity-related emissions of China’s cement sector. Since the government committed to a reduction compared to its 2005 per capita CO2 emissions of 40 - 45% by 2020 and 60 - 65% by 2030, China’s cement-related emissions peaked in 2014. The research, funded by various Chinese public bodies as well as the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Natural Environment Research Council, indicated that historical emissions growth was driven by economic growth, offset in recent years by improved intensity and efficiency. The outsourcing of cement capacities to less developed regions with less accurate recording methods may have precipitated the trend.

Bio-derived fuels from the growing consumer sector may help China to establish itself as an innovator of green cement solutions.

Japan: Sumitomo Osaka Cement is using debris from flooding and heavy rainfall that took place in mid-2018 in the southwest of the country as an alternative fuel and raw material for cement production. It used around 12,000t of waste in this manner by the end of July 2019. The materials have been used at its integrated Ako and Kochi plants. Previously the cement producer has used so-called ‘disaster waste’ created by earthquakes and typhoons.

US: Geocycle North America has received a new Untha XR mobil-e waste shredder at its plant in Dorchester, South Carolina. The mobile unit with 2 x 177hp motors, will process non-hazardous post-industrial waste to produce refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for LafargeHolcim’s Holly Hill cement plant. The shredder is currently configured to manufacture 10t/hr of RDF and the plant aims to generate 35,000 – 40,000t/yr of the fuel. Untha says that the new product replaces a previous shredder from another manufacturer.

Denmark: Norway’s Geminor has signed a deal with Danish energy producer AffaldPlus to deliver 150,000t of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for three years from January 2020. Geminor will deliver 50,000t/yr of RDF sourced from countries such as the UK, Italy and Germany. The logistics will mainly consist of bulk shipments but also train and road transport. No value for the order has been disclosed.

AffaldPlus is owned by six municipalities on the island of Sjælland. In addition to receiving and handling waste from the municipalities, AffaldPlus produces electricity and district heating at its plant in Næstved. Geminor will deliver about a third of the total annual secondary fuels burned in the incinerator at AffaldPlus.