Towards decarbonization of cement industry: a critical review of electrification technologies for sustainable cement production

Abstract Cement production accounts for 8% of global CO2 emissions, necessitating its deep decarbonization. This paper reviews: (i) electrolysis-based methods to produce cement precursors, and (ii) electrified process heat technologies, along with heat storage approaches. We highlight scaled-up calc...

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Main Authors: Sayee Srikarah Volaity, Bryan K. Aylas-Paredes, Taihao Han, Jie Huang, Seetharaman Sridhar, Gaurav Sant, Aditya Kumar, Narayanan Neithalath
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:npj Materials Sustainability
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44296-025-00068-6
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author Sayee Srikarah Volaity
Bryan K. Aylas-Paredes
Taihao Han
Jie Huang
Seetharaman Sridhar
Gaurav Sant
Aditya Kumar
Narayanan Neithalath
author_facet Sayee Srikarah Volaity
Bryan K. Aylas-Paredes
Taihao Han
Jie Huang
Seetharaman Sridhar
Gaurav Sant
Aditya Kumar
Narayanan Neithalath
author_sort Sayee Srikarah Volaity
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Cement production accounts for 8% of global CO2 emissions, necessitating its deep decarbonization. This paper reviews: (i) electrolysis-based methods to produce cement precursors, and (ii) electrified process heat technologies, along with heat storage approaches. We highlight scaled-up calciner and kiln designs and the associated technoeconomic factors. Addressing renewable energy intermittency, and the need for grid upgrades and strategic infrastructure investments are critical to enabling the transition to low-carbon cement manufacturing.
format Article
id doaj-art-4e090cf667af49a4992144b6dd25f3ce
institution Kabale University
issn 2948-1775
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Materials Sustainability
spelling doaj-art-4e090cf667af49a4992144b6dd25f3ce2025-08-20T04:01:35ZengNature Portfolionpj Materials Sustainability2948-17752025-07-013112610.1038/s44296-025-00068-6Towards decarbonization of cement industry: a critical review of electrification technologies for sustainable cement productionSayee Srikarah Volaity0Bryan K. Aylas-Paredes1Taihao Han2Jie Huang3Seetharaman Sridhar4Gaurav Sant5Aditya Kumar6Narayanan Neithalath7School of Sustainable Engineering and Built Environment, Arizona State UniversityCollege of Engineering and Computing, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyCollege of Engineering and Computing, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyCollege of Engineering and Computing, Missouri University of Science and TechnologySchool for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State UniversityInstitute of Carbon Management, University of California Los AngelesCollege of Engineering and Computing, Missouri University of Science and TechnologySchool of Sustainable Engineering and Built Environment, Arizona State UniversityAbstract Cement production accounts for 8% of global CO2 emissions, necessitating its deep decarbonization. This paper reviews: (i) electrolysis-based methods to produce cement precursors, and (ii) electrified process heat technologies, along with heat storage approaches. We highlight scaled-up calciner and kiln designs and the associated technoeconomic factors. Addressing renewable energy intermittency, and the need for grid upgrades and strategic infrastructure investments are critical to enabling the transition to low-carbon cement manufacturing.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44296-025-00068-6
spellingShingle Sayee Srikarah Volaity
Bryan K. Aylas-Paredes
Taihao Han
Jie Huang
Seetharaman Sridhar
Gaurav Sant
Aditya Kumar
Narayanan Neithalath
Towards decarbonization of cement industry: a critical review of electrification technologies for sustainable cement production
npj Materials Sustainability
title Towards decarbonization of cement industry: a critical review of electrification technologies for sustainable cement production
title_full Towards decarbonization of cement industry: a critical review of electrification technologies for sustainable cement production
title_fullStr Towards decarbonization of cement industry: a critical review of electrification technologies for sustainable cement production
title_full_unstemmed Towards decarbonization of cement industry: a critical review of electrification technologies for sustainable cement production
title_short Towards decarbonization of cement industry: a critical review of electrification technologies for sustainable cement production
title_sort towards decarbonization of cement industry a critical review of electrification technologies for sustainable cement production
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44296-025-00068-6
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