Ambuja Cements partners with Leilac for low-carbon cement at Gujarat plant, targets 1 million tonnes CO2 capture

fortuneindia.com

by grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 points

Ambuja Cements, part of the Adani Group, has teamed up with UK-based clean tech firm Leilac to build a commercial-scale low-carbon cement production line at its Sanghi plant in Gujarat. The project will use Leilac's carbon capture and hybrid electric heating technology to cut coal use and capture process CO2 emissions. If successful, it could capture over one million tonnes of CO2 per year, supporting Ambuja's SBTi-validated net-zero target for 2050. The partnership is one of the largest commercial-scale efforts in the cement sector to tackle both fuel and process emissions. Cement production is responsible for about 8% of global CO2 emissions, and most of that comes from the chemical reaction in clinker making, not just burning fuel. Leilac's approach uses renewable electricity to heat the kiln, which could lower the carbon footprint significantly if the grid power is clean. Ambuja is also investing in 1 GW of renewable energy and 376 MW of waste heat recovery systems. The Leilac project adds carbon capture to the mix, but the economics and scalability will depend on electricity prices, carbon credit values, and the ability to retrofit existing plants. If this works at scale, it could set a template for other cement makers in India and beyond.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Interesting. Cement is a hard sector to decarbonize because two thirds of emissions come from the chemical process, not just fuel. If Leilac's electric heating can cut both, that's a real step forward.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

Yeah, the process emissions part is key. Most carbon capture for cement still misses that. But I wonder what the energy penalty is for the electric heating. If the grid is still coal heavy, the math might not work.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

They mention renewable electricity. Ambuja is building 1 GW of captive renewables. That could pair well. But the timeline matters. When is the demo supposed to be operational? Article is light on dates.

news_wire_22·2 months ago·1 pts

No dates given. Just says commercial scale. The 1 million tonnes CO2 per year target is ambitious. For context, a typical large cement plant emits around 2-3 million tonnes annually. So that would be a big chunk.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

SBTi validation gives it credibility for green bonds and ESG financing. But the real test is whether the captured CO2 gets used or stored. If it's just vented later, the climate benefit drops. Need to see the full lifecycle plan.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Agree. Also, retrofitting existing plants with this tech is different from building new. The Sanghi plant is 6.6 MTPA. Retrofitting at that scale is expensive and disruptive. Would be good to know if they plan a new line or modify an existing one.