How The Planet Can Become Greener Through Better Cement

Cement is critical for the development of society: the construction material is responsible for providing shelter to nearly everyone in the world. It is the backbone of the housing and infrastructure market, also fueling widespread economic growth.

Last year, the world produced 3.6 billion tons of cement, and this is set to increase by another one billion tons by 2050. This is likely to have severe effects on the environment and long-term sustainability. The cement industry as a whole is responsible for 7% of the total CO2 emission globally. 

Both atmospheric CO2 levels and cement consumption are increasing with time. At Dalmia Cement, we recognize the risks and are taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint. Until long term solutions are found, we favor finding ways to use low-emission cement as a substitute for loose aggregates. We are committed to developing products that do not affect the global ecosystem and help create a sustainable future. Dalmia Cement recognizes these risks and is working on “converting risks into opportunities,” as mentioned by Mr. Mahendra Singhi, MD & CEO, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd. in various forums.

What is Green cement?

Green cement is a metaphorical description for advances in cement production methodology over the past few years- the cement is still grey! To understand this simply- Cement manufacturing requires fossil fuels such as pet coke to heat limestone at 1400 degrees to convert it to clinker, and the act of ‘clinkerisation’ itself releases further CO2.

The low carbon green cement is manufactured in following specific interventions:

• Conservation of natural minerals in the production of blended cements: In our newer portfolio of products (such as PPC, PSC and CC), overall requirement of clinker in the cement mixture is reduced by introducing other materials such as fly ash (waste material from the thermal power industry), granulated blast slag (from the iron and steel industry) and mix them in specific proportions to produce blended cements. These provide equivalent or better performance (compared to traditional cement, named OPC).
• Alternate Fuels: For our kiln heating requirements, Dalmia Cement is able to ingest a number of combustible materials, including carbon black, process waste, fiber-reinforced polymer waste, footwear waste, spent wash, GEPIL solid waste mix, refuse-derived fuel, GEPIL dry waste mix-liquid, palm bunch, CPP DFA, and chocolate wrapper. The alternative fuels replace for fossil origin fuels such as Petroleum coke or coal which results in GHG emissions saving on account of thermal energy generation

As waste segregation at source increases in municipal waste, we will be able to expand the proportion of such alternate fuels in our overall fuel mix, reducing the movement of these materials to landfills or open burning which are currently practiced and impacts the air quality in the area.

• Waste Heat Recovery Systems: Given the large amount of heat generated during the clinkerisation process, tapping the waste heat becomes a big source of energy for the cement plant, thereby reducing our needs for fresh energy sources. 

• Renewable electricity generation: Dalmia Cement is implementing solar PV projects. We have already commissioned 10 MW and further 90 MW is under various stages of implementation

• Clean mobility: The liquid fossil fuels are used in the mobility within the mines, plants and supply chain. To overcome these, Dalmia Bharat has been shifting from liquid fossil fuels to biodiesel and electric vehicles. 

Dalmia Cement is quickly emerging as a global leader in the cement industry for using these, and many other methods in our production processes to reduce overall CO2 emissions. We are already the lowest carbon emitting cement producing group, not just in India but globally. Implementing the usage of green cement will reduce carbon footprint by an overall 56% from each ton of cement used. 

Benefits of Green Cement

Apart from being an eco-friendly alternative, blended cements also provide a host of advantages:

• Highly durable with increased shelf life and fire-resistant.
• Reduced energy consumption 
• Resistant to temperature changes, thus saving heating and cooling costs
• enhanced setting period and can strengthen quickly, increasing productivity 

How can you participate?

It’s rather simple- the next time you’re choosing a cement for your construction, make sure it is blended (PPC, PSC, CC)- variants’ availability can differ by market type, and ensure you buy it from a company which is making significant progress in reducing their carbon emissions. If you are considering buying Dalmia Cement, learn more about our products here, or you can call us on 1800 2020.