HeidelbergCement : Green light for LEILAC 2 carbon capture project at HeidelbergCement’s plant in Hanover, Germany

• By 2025, the facility aims to capture 20% of the cement plant's carbon emissions, corresponding to around 100,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
• To minimise the use of fossil energy for carbon capture, the project will also test the use of alternative fuels and electrical energy.

The LEILAC 2 (Low Emissions Intensity Lime And Cement) carbon capture project has successfully passed its Financial Investment Decision milestone, confirming that the project can now enter the implementation phase. Together with the Australian technology company Calix and a European consortium, HeidelbergCement will proceed to build a demonstration facility integrated into HeidelbergCement's plant in Hanover, Germany. The installation will be capable of capturing 20% of the cement plant's CO2 emissions, corresponding to around 100,000 tonnes of CO2 per year .

"LEILAC 2 is one of several carbon capture projects we are currently pursuing at HeidelbergCement," says Dr. Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board: "We are very pleased to advance this key technology at industrial scale at our plant in Hanover, Germany. The location is ideally suited for further utilisation and/or transport to offshore storage of the captured CO2." The company targets CO2 reductions of up to 10 million tonnes with several CCUS projects already underway by 2030.

As part of the prior LEILAC 1 project, a CO2 capture pilot installation with a capture capacity of 25,000 tonnes of CO2 per year had been developed at HeidelbergCement's Lixhe plant in Belgium. With LEILAC 2, an installation around four times as large will be operated in Hanover. The project now enters the detailed design phase through 2022, followed by procurement and construction of the plant itself. Construction is expected in 2023, dependent on flag points over the coming months. The project scope for LEILAC 2 also includes a thorough analysis of the potential destination of the captured CO2, either for utilisation purposes or for safe geological offshore storage.

With the patented LEILAC technology, the CO2 released during cement production can be captured in a highly pure form via a separate waste gas stream and used in other processes. As minimal additional energy is needed and no chemicals are required, this happens in an especially cost-efficient way. The technology can also be retrofitted in a modular form at any scale and use any fuel or energy source, including biomass, hydrogen, or electricity - providing a 'future proof' solution.

Phil Hodgson, Calix MD and CEO and Chairman of the LEILAC Executive Board: "This announcement marks a significant milestone and further demonstrates the momentum which is building around the LEILAC project. It is testament to the strong level of collaboration which has been cultivated between the consortium partners, who have all worked together to make significant progress on this breakthrough project."

About LEILAC

The LEILAC consortium is led by the LEILAC Group (technology provider Calix), and comprises HeidelbergCement, CEMEX, Cimpor, IKN, Lhoist, Port of Rotterdam, BGR, RBINS-GSB, CERTH, POLIMI, LEAP, and Engie. It is supported by GCCA, GCCSI, CEMBUREAU, ECRA, University of Clausthal and EuLA. The project aims to apply and demonstrate a breakthrough technology that will enable Europe's cement and lime industries to reduce their carbon footprint significantly.

For further information please visit www.project-leilac.eu.

About HeidelbergCement

HeidelbergCement is one of the world's largest integrated manufacturers of building materials and solutions, with leading market positions in aggregates, cement, and ready-mixed concrete. More than 51,000 employees at nearly 3,000 locations in over 50 countries deliver long-term financial performance through operational excellence and openness for change. At the center of actions lies the responsibility for the environment. As forerunner on the path to carbon neutrality, HeidelbergCement crafts material solutions for the future.