HOLCIM Belgium - GO4ZERO - Building necessary partnerships among industrial actors and with public authorities for the purpose of achieving European Green Deal goals.

On Thursday, 27th April 2023, HOLCIM organized an event in Obourg to discuss the implementation of its GO4ZERO project. The event also featured a virtual display of the project using augmented reality technology. GO4ZERO is one of the most innovative and ambitious decarbonization projects in the cement industry. GO4ZERO represents an industrial-scale implementation of Europe's Green Deal Industrial Plan.

The ambition to fully decarbonize cement production is essential in the fight against climate change. However, achieving this goal is not economically feasible nor sustainable without a close partnership between the industry and the public sector. The execution of the Green Deal Industrial Plan presents an opportunity that should not be missed. The recently adopted CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) by European institutions will be ineffective unless the European public authorities direct the available financial resources towards decarbonization efforts in carbon-intensive sectors, particularly towards the most efficient and mature projects.

Public authorities have a crucial part to play:

  • To ensure interconnection between industrial projects that contribute together to the new value chain for captured carbon, GO4ZERO must be directly linked to the new port hub Antwerp@C which is an essential element for the decarbonization of carbon-intensive industries, particularly those characterized by process emissions.
  • Develop a public carbon transport infrastructure (backbone CO2), associated to a legal framework and transparent and clearly defined management tools.
  • Provide assurance for maintaining the competitiveness of industries and companies by helping them to build sustainable financial models as well as strengthening European and national strategic autonomy in energy, hydrogen, building materials and especially cement. Support with the EU Innovation Fund and the Just Transition Fund is necessary.
  • Promote the most relevant projects, both in terms of their innovative characteristics and their overall maturity as part of European calls for projects. For example, the GO4ZERO project is competing in the Innovation Fund's third call for large projects, which is 12 times oversubscribed.

HOLCIM Belgium wishes to highlight the specificities of the GO4ZERO project:

  • GO4ZERO relies on a mature technological mix that will enable the full decarbonation of clinker and cement produced in Obourg by the end of the current decade.
  • The project is located in Belgium and supplies an economic area where current and future needs for cement are significant (estimated 22Mt/year), particularly due to important investments already granted or to be approved regarding the renovation of critical infrastructure and residential housing. Once again, this is aligned with broader EU objectives and will contribute significantly to the decarbonization of the built environment.
  • The project is part of a multimodal transport network for its raw materials and finished products as well as existing and planned pipelines for natural gas, hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2). As a result, the project is fully integrated with economically and environmental efficient infrastructure solutions needed to build and operate the project.
  • Holcim has 82 hectares of industrial site available to host future industrial activities linked to the recovery of industrial CO2 and enhancement of circular economy, which are both at the forefront of the Holcim Group strategy.

On April 27th, GO4ZERO was presented for the first time in virtual reality. ​ Additionally, the building and operating permit for the new kiln was granted some weeks ago.

As a reminder, the project is defined in two steps:

  • During the first phase, the current kiln is replaced by a new “dry process” kiln based on the most advanced, state-of- the-art technologies, providing unique operation and environmental performances. The used material is drier - limestone - substantially available in our quarries in the Tournai region. The thermal energy needs of the “dry process” will immediately be reduced by 40 %, leading to an immediate 30 % reduction in specific CO2 emissions.
    ​Scheduled for the last quarter of 2026, this new plant will also be characterized by unprecedented self-generated and highly efficient energy use, including through a floating photovoltaic farm of 30MW (in partnership with TotalEnergies) and 7MW from waste heat recovery. This represents a total production of 81 GWh covering up to 50% of the new facilities energy requirements. ​ New digital technologies are foreseen to manage the new plant and to enhance performances: industrial network 5G (facilities monitoring system), analysis and performances improvement using artificial intelligence, automated quality control, etc.
  • The second phase includes the installation of the “oxyfuel” process in which air is replaced by oxygen. This innovative process will enable the concentration of CO2 at more than 80% (against 30% in phase 1). This modification will go together with the carbon value chain commissioning: capture and purification on site at more than 99%, transport through pipeline, liquefaction at terminal and sea vessels loading, sea transport and carbon sequestration in the North Sea. This full carbon chain is scheduled to be operational by mid-2028, bringing the site to full net-zero from 2029 onwards.
    ​The project involved high reputable industrial partners, world-class experts in their fields: Air Liquide, Fluxys, and TotalEnergies. The GO4ZERO application to the EU Innovation Fund is linked to this second phase and forms an essential ingredient for the success of the project. We apply for the UE Innovation Fund support to succeed in the achievement of this phase.

 

Thomas Dermine, Federal State Secretary : "The federal government is committed to working alongside the region and businesses determined to succeed in their climate transition, paving the way for a fully decarbonized new economy. Faced with this immense challenge, it is the role of public authorities to establish an enabling regulatory framework, invest in relevant transport infrastructure, and foster the interconnection of projects. We actively support the allocation of significant European resources to the most ambitious and efficient projects in terms of carbon footprint reduction."
Morgan Malecotte, CEO Holcim Belgium : "Our chalk deposit will soon ​ be exhausted. We take this opportunity to renew our industrial process and transform it into a fully decarbonized facility, in full alignment with the Paris Agreement. GO4ZERO is our future in Belgium and this kiln will be the biggest carbon-neutral clinker production unit in Europe."
Vincent Michel, GO4ZERO Program Director : "GO4ZERO has been designed to be the first of its kind, bringing to life a new generation of cement kiln. No compromise has been made on energy, climate and environment performance. We are firmly addressing our current and future challenges with this highly ambitious and innovative project. This forms a unique opportunity to write the next chapter of the industrial history of our beloved region."

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Vincent Michel

Directeur du Programme GO4ZERO, Holcim Belgique

Jean-Sébastien de Halleux

Consultant, Whyte Corporate Affairs

François-Xavier Blanpain

Whyte Corporate Affairs