Construction materials company, Cemex has signed a joint venture agreement with recycling service provider ALBA to produce biochar, a carbon-neutral fuel derived from biomass.
The use of biochar, alongside a planned carbon capture project on site, will allow the capture of biomass CO2 for storage and the production of sustainable aviation fuels.
The biochar plant, named ALCE, is claimed will be the first of its kind in Europe in terms of size, capacity, and strategic location in Cemex’s Rüdersdorf cement plant.
This fully-automated facility will process and recycle organic waste into carbon-neutral alternative fuels, reducing the use of fossil fuels in cement production. Due to its potential to sequester CO2, Cemex says it is also testing the incorporation of biochar into its concrete mixtures to further reduce their carbon footprint.
Fernando A. González, chief executive of Cemex, said: “Rüdersdorf is one of the most modern cement plants in the world, and with this joint venture, we are making significant progress in transforming the plant into our first carbon-neutral cement facility by 2030. This joint venture is another important milestone in achieving our ambitious 2030 decarbonisation goals.”
The ALCE plant is expected to begin operations at the end of 2026.
In 2023, Cemex says alternative fuels accounted for 37% of its fuel mix, setting a company record for the third consecutive year. The company’s European plants are also claimed to have set the standard for alternative fuel consumption, reaching rates above 70% in Czech Republic, Germany, and the UK, and above 90% in Poland.
This joint venture is part of Cemex’s Future in Action programme to build a more sustainable, circular future, with the primary objective of becoming a net-zero CO2 company by 2050. Since the launch of Future in Action, the company says it has achieved record-breaking CO2 reductions.
Main image: Cemex’s Rüdersdorf plant in Germany
Read next: Beyond sporting spectacle, can stadiums end their isolation?
Are you a building professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
