CEMEX has signed an agreement with ETFuels to transform CO2 from CEMEX’s Alicante cement plant in Spain into green fuels.
Building materials giant CEMEX says this carbon utilisation project is groundbreaking in its scope and potential contribution to European energy security, and demonstrates significant progress in testing and scaling technologies that are designed to contribute to accelerating decarbonisation efforts in the cement production process.
Under the agreement, green fuels producer ETFuels will combine up to 450,000 metric tons of captured CO2 annually with green hydrogen to produce more sustainable fuels in the form of green methanol (e-methanol).
CEMEX says it is evaluating several strategies and partners to perform CO2 capture for this project.
“Our goal of reaching net-zero CO2 emissions is achievable and will be driven by collaboration and innovation,” said CEMEX CEO Fernando González. “Our decarbonisation roadmap includes reducing emissions to the lowest possible level through proven levers such as clinker substitution and alternative fuels. New levers, such as rapidly developing CCUS initiatives, must effectively tackle the remaining CO2 emissions to hit our ambitious 2050 objectives.”
CEMEX says that turning carbon into more sustainable fuels has several potential benefits for the region, including increased energy security, reduced fossil fuel dependency, job creation, and increased private investment. The fuel produced through the agreement is intended to be used in the shipping industry, with the goal of further reducing overall carbon emissions in the global supply chain.
ETFuels CEO Lara Naqushbandi commented: “ETFuels is honoured to work with the CEMEX team in our joint ambition for decarbonization of industry. This pioneering fuel production project combined with Carbon Capture and Utilization presents a scalable way to decarbonize supply chains and aligns fully with our vision to deliver energy transition at hyperscale with commercially viable solutions.”
The initiative is part of a more extensive portfolio of CEMEX Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) solutions including permanent storage or use of CO2 from biogenic sources and contributes to CEMEX’s 2050 net-zero emissions target.
ETFuels says it aims to be Europe’s largest and lowest cost producer of green fuels through pioneering a new model, disrupting current decarbonisation approaches to provide Europe with a pathway to energy security.
“We are building a platform to unleash the full potential of renewable energy at scale, by transforming how energy is produced and distributed, and ultimately how fuels are created and consumed,” the company comments. “ETFuels will deliver energy transition at hyperscale.”
