During a meeting with stakeholders from the Świętokrzyskie and Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodships that was held on 12 September, Holcim Polska summarised its environmental activities and investment projects. The Environment Day was also attended by a representative of the Marshal's Office in Kielce from the Department of Agriculture, Climate and the Environment, who touched on the development of circular economy in the region.
Decarbonisation initiatives undoubtedly accelerate the transformation of business, including the Polish cement production industry, which is the third largest in Europe. Decarbonisation of the sector can make a huge contribution to regional development. The Polish cement industry, including Holcim Poland, is already one of the world leaders in the application of circular economy and low-carbon technologies.
The role of circular economy and low-carbon technologies was discussed by Wioletta Czarnecka, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture, Climate and Environment of the Marshal's Office in Kielce, who presented the Office's approach to planning its waste management scheme and the sustainable development of the voivodeship in line with the principles of circular economy.
Circular economy is one of the priorities in the voivodeship development strategy We must learn to treat waste as raw materials, at every stage of its lifecycle. This is the only way to prevent its accumulation and, at the same time, increase our innovativeness by creating new business models,’ said Wioletta Czarnecka of the Marshal's Office in Kielce. Green public procurement, which encourages the use of sustainable products, is going to become a market standard and circular economy is expected to play a special role in this.
Małogoszcz Cement Plant finalises a multi-million investment project
The cement plant is in the final stages of a modernisation project. Its aim is to minimise the impact on the natural environment and the surroundings of the plant, and to increase its energy efficiency. The construction of a new kiln will lead to a reduction in the cement plant's CO2 emissions by approximately 20%. Thanks to the investment in a new clinker kiln and the in-house production of electricity from the Waste Heat Recovery unit, the plant will not only become even less burdensome, but also more self-sufficient, with its total electricity consumption reduced by a third. There are also plans to increase the replacement of conventional fuels with alternatives to as much as 90% (from the current ca. 80%), with 50% of the fuel coming from biomass.
The example of the Kujawy Cement Works
Although circular economy leads to a significant decarbonisation of production technologies, it cannot fully decarbonise the industry. One of the EU's Green Deal goals is for all sectors of the economy to be at net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. For energy-intensive sectors, including the cement industry, this is impossible without the use of advanced CO2 capture technologies. This is why Holcim Poland is introducing a pioneering CCS technology, which is currently the only method that makes it possible to completely eliminate the carbon footprint from the production of clinker - the main ingredient of cement.
Meetings like this provide a unique opportunity to address challenges and propose solutions within more than just one region, since Poland's industry as a whole needs to move towards sustainability. ‘At Holcim Polska we are committed to modern and safe solutions that can accelerate our transformation and support the development of the region in which we operate,’ says Jolanta Zdunowska, Technical Director of CCS Projects at Holcim Polska. ‘This is why the Kujawy Go4ECOPlanet project delivers a number of benefits, including the full capture of carbon dioxide from production processes and the production of zero-emission cement. It will be a model for other industries to follow, since it is possible to replicate the solution in other energy-intensive industries,’ adds Zdunowska.
For many years, the construction sector at large has been doing a lot to reduce emissions through long-term investments and innovative solutions. Therefore, in addition to being ambitious, European legislation should also take into account the requirements and the current situation in the individual sectors. This will help keep decarbonisation at the heart of business while preserving the competitiveness of the Polish industry.
Holcim Poland focuses its policy on two areas: the environment and the cost structure, with an emphasis on long-term projects and achieving tangible, positive changes in the environment. The company’s activities are based on transparency, openness and consistency in action, as evidenced by its regular meetings with local stakeholders as part of the Environment Days and Social Dialogue Sessions.
‘We are focusing on reducing our carbon dioxide emissions. As a result, over the past 20 years we have halved our CO2 emissions from 800 kg to 400 kg per tonne of cement. In addition, we will have implemented a modern carbon capture technology by 2030,’ said President of Holcim Polska Maciej Sypek, PhD, during the 33rd Economic Forum in Karpacz, Poland (3-5 September 2024).
In its expectations of businesses, the EU repeats 'zero net emissions' like a mantra. Holcim is taking up this challenge. As a result, the Kujawy Cement Plant may become the first full ydecarbonised construction materials plant in Poland. Jolanta Zdunowska, Technical Director of Carbon Capture and Storage Projects at Holcim Polska, talks about the PLN 2-bln investment project.
The first zero-emission cement plant in Europe is to be built in 2027 in Poland, in the Kujawy region. Holcim is in the process of implementing the GO4ECOPLANET project, under which 100 percent of the carbon dioxide produced by Cementownia Kujawy will be captured.
The Kujawy Go4ECOPlanet project, which aims to capture 100 percent of CO2 emissions in Kujawy Cement Plant, enters the next stage.
The cement sector is characterized by a high degree of innovation in introducing solutions conducive to reducing the negative impact on the environment.
Holcim and the Innovation Fund (CINEA European Agency) signed the project grant agreement in Brussels on 19 January 2023.
Holcim has secured substantial commitments from the European Union (EU) Innovation Fund for two of its breakthrough Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage projects in Germany and Poland.
