Heidelberg Materials to build one-of-a-kind hybrid carbon capture unit at its Belgian Antoing cement plant

• The hybrid carbon capture unit will combine the Oxyfuel and Amine capture technologies in a second-generation set-up

• Once operational, it will capture around 800,000 tonnes of CO2 from the cement production process annually

• To support this capture project called “Anthemis”, Heidelberg Materials will seek national, regional, and EU funding

Heidelberg Materials intends to equip the Antoing plant of its Belgian subsidiary CBR with an innovative hybrid carbon capture unit. Antoing is a state-of-the-art cement plant with one of the world’s best-performing kilns in terms of specific CO₂ emissions, which was recently modernised and is ready to be used for the project with no further need for modification. The innovative second-generation OxyCal concept combines the established Oxyfuel and Amine capture technologies in a hybrid unit that no longer requires an additional preheater tower. This means a significant reduction in the need for structural steel and concrete, which considerably improves the resource efficiency of the system. Once operational, the project will reduce CO₂ emissions from Antoing by more than 97 %, equaling around 800,000 tonnes of captured CO₂ annually.

“We are excited to add yet another pioneering technology to our CCUS project portfolio, and to build on what we have already achieved in terms of research and innovation,” says Dr Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board. “From the Antoing plant alone, we will be able to offer more than 15 million tonnes of carbon-free cement to the construction market in the first ten years of operation. This is a key contribution to Belgium’s transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.” With its geographical location more than 100 kilometres from the coast, Antoing would be the first inland cement plant in Western Europe to supply carbon-free cement.

While the project will be focusing on the carbon capture process, collaborations will be established with various partners to transport and store the captured carbon, with the aim of creating a complete CO₂ value chain. To support the construction of the capture unit, the company will seek national, regional, and EU funding.