Cemex hits milestone on path to solar-driven cement production

Research and development (R&D) teams at clean energy firm Synhelion and Mexican construction materials maker Cemex SAB de CV (BMV:CEMEXCPO) have successfully produced cement clinker using solar energy for the first time ever.

The milestone was achieved through a pilot batch production unit installed at the Very High Concentration Solar Tower (VHCST) facility of IMDEA Energy in Spain.

The partners in this project have successfully connected the clinker production process with a solar receiver to make use of concentrated solar radiation rather than fossil fuels. The solar receiver heats a gaseous heat transfer fluid to provide the necessary process heat for the production of clinker, a key component of cement.

“Our technology converts concentrated sunlight into the hottest existing solar process heat – beyond 1,500°C – on the market,” explained Gianluca Ambrosetti, CEO and co-founder of Synhelion.

Cemex noted that this is an initial step towards developing fully solar-driven cement plants. The next step is to produce solar clinker in larger quantities.

The initiative is part of the company’s Future in Action programme, aligned with its objective to deliver globally net-zero CO2 concrete by 2050.

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