Deep Decarbonization of the Cement Sector: A Prospective Environmental Assessment of CO₂ Recycling to Methanol

Current decarbonization pressures are prompting efforts to reimagine the future of hard-to-abate cement sector. To date, fuel switching has arisen as most readily operational strategy, and its application in sector is expected short midterm. However, around two-thirds CO2 emissions come from calcination limestone. The implementation capture utilization and/or storage will be crucial support a reliable net-zero carbon by 2050–2070. CCS considered carbon-neutral technology roadmap, while recycling (CCU) suitable strategy for those locations where there an industrial symbiosis between market CO2-based chemical markets (e.g., methanol, formic acid, etc.). Despite that CCU cannot itself, it could powerful option combination with CCS. technologies still emerging, their development boosted next decades. In this study, prospective environmental analysis been conducted through life cycle thinking explore benefits long-term implementing plant (CRP) based on emerging electrochemical reduction (ER) produce methanol (MeOH). study aims demonstrate synergic defossilization both MeOH markets, respectively. Cell energy efficiency concentration have identified key performance parameters should 60% 40% wt, respectively, ensure sustainable ER technology. A CRP powered low-carbon renewable electricity (<0.02 kg CO2eq/kW h) low-fossil depletion (FD) impact (<0.01 oileq/kW lead integrated production sharp reductions footprint (∼75%) FD (∼66%) compared conventional fossil-based productions. proposed scheme can contribute accelerating innovation deployment these sectors.