Lime products are natural carbon sinks
Lime, often overlooked in discussions of industrial decarbonisation, plays a surprisingly significant role in the transition to a low-carbon future. Unlike cement, which it superficially resembles, lime offers a more sustainable and versatile pathway towards reducing carbon emissions across numerous critical sectors.
Firstly, lime production uniquely supports over 65% of the Critical Raw Materials identified in the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. The Critical Raw Materials span 5 key sectors: renewables (powering wind and solar energy infrastructure), electric mobility (a key component in electric vehicle manufacturing), ICT, Aerospace & Defence, and Industrial Processes. This widespread use demands significant quantities of minerals, the specific types and amounts varying considerably depending on the application; electric vehicles, for example, require far more minerals in their production process than conventional cars. The evolving composition of lime's mineral inputs over time emphasises its adaptive role within a changing industrial landscape.
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A direct comparison with cement production highlights lime's sustainability advantages. Cement production is characterised by a large thermal inefficient kilns producing emissions low CO2 concentration, thereby requiring large CCUS systems. Lime production, however, exhibits significantly greater flexibility, with multiple applications across diverse sectors. Thermal efficiencies are >90%; re-carbonation rates are both significantly greater and faster; CO2 emissions are more concentrate and purer allowing grater options with regards to CCUS. Furthermore Lime is a key component in critical mineral production and used in low volume relative ot our customers other raw materials and is a minimal cost to the overall cost of production of our customers products — distinctions that cement lacks.
Fuel Switching: Transitioning to alternative fuels like biofuels could reduce CO2 emissions by 30%. The fact that approximately half of existing kilns can accommodate solid fuels makes this transition feasible
Re-carbonation: This process allows for the recapture of a significant portion of CO2 emissions (up to 43% of process emissions, or approximately 30% of total emissions). While immediate implementation is possible in some applications, widespread adoption requires policy changes and further validation of carbon savings. The EULA is actively advocating for this approach.
CCUS: Sigmaroc, a major player in the lime industry, is CCUS ready including through a combination of partnerships with larger emitters (25% of our assets) and the use of Aqualung technology, which allows for the capture of >30,000 tonnes per container that allowing both a modular and scalable approach.
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In conclusion, despite generating CO2 emissions, lime plays a vital role in various critical industries and possesses significant decarbonisation potential. Its relative resilience to rising ETS prices, combined with readily implementable decarbonisation strategies, positions lime as a crucial and often-overlooked factor in the transition to a sustainable future.
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