go4zero project
GO4ZERO will deploy an innovative air-oxyfuel switchable kiln with carbon purification technology at Holcim’s cement plant in Obourg, Belgium. CO2 will then be sequestered under the North Sea. The project aims to store around 1.1 million tons of CO2 per year.
In 2023, the project was selected for a grant from the EU Innovation Fund.
GROUNDBREAKING EVENT
With a groundbreaking ceremony held on May 16, 2024 at our Obourg, Belgium plant, Holcim officially kicked off phase 1 of its GO4ZERO project. This project is organized in two phases: phase 1 consists of modernizing the plant through the commissioning of a state-of-the-art new kiln, ensuring an optimal basis for carbon capture. In phase 2 the plant will reach near-zero emissions through the deployment of the end-to-end CO2 value chain alongside our industry partners.
Through a planned investment of over EUR 500 million, the GO4ZERO project – which transforms cement manufacturing at every stage of the process – is putting innovation to work to advance Europe’s decarbonization.
The ceremony was attended by Belgian PM, Alexander De Croo and European Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra.
By advancing decarbonization as a driver of profitable growth, Holcim is on course to make near-zero cement and concrete a reality at scale this decade. GO4ZERO is one of our six large-scale, European Union-supported carbon capture, utilization and storage projects. These aim to capture a total of over 5 million tons of CO2 per annum, enabling us to offer over 8 million tons of fully decarbonized cement each year across Europe.
Image gallery
From left to right: Miljan Gutovic, CEO Holcim Group; Alexander De Croo, Belgian Prime Minister; Cédric de Meeûs, Head of Public Affairs & Government Relations at Holcim and Edelio Bermejo, Head of Innovation at Holcim
From left to right: Miljan Gutovic, CEO Holcim Group; Alexander De Croo, Belgian Prime Minister and Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate Action
From left to right: Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate Action; Cédric de Meeûs, Head of Public Affairs & Government Relations at Holcim and Miljan Gutovic, CEO Holcim Group
Foundation stone of GO4ZERO CCUS plant
go4zero at a glance
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The technology behind the project
The project will be carried out in two phases. The first phase consists of replacing the current clinker kiln with a next-generation air-oxyfuel switchable kiln. This will enable a reduction in CO2 emissions of nearly 30% per ton of clinker.
The second phase consists of capturing CO2 and implementing an innovative oxyfuel process using Air Liquide’s CryocapTM Oxy technology.
The technology will purify CO2 generated from production in Obourg to above 99.5%. Captured CO2 will then be transported via Fluxys’ network to the Antwerp@C CO2 Export Hub where it will be liquified and shipped for storage under the North Sea.
With GO4ZERO, we are developing a full carbon capture, transport and storage value chain with the goal of producing near-zero cement by the end of the decade.
More on Holcim's CCUS journey
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