Potential of Sector-Coupled Decarbonization between Cement Plants and Waste-to-Energy Plants

Abstract

This work assesses the potential of sector coupling to address the challenges of CO₂ capture and storage (CCS) in the cement sector, whereby a cement plant receives excess heat from a nearby WtE plant to power the CCS process. Due to seasonal variations in the district heating demand, large amounts of heat are available at WtE plants for CCS. By sharing this excess heat with a cement plant that typically emits more CO₂, it was found that up to 60% more emissions reduction can be achieved compared to independent capture at each facility. In particular, sector coupling is favorable if the cement plant emissions are at least twice as much, a condition met by two-thirds of all cement-WtE plant pairs in Europe. Despite the many practical and regulatory challenges that come with sector coupling, the potential for significant CO₂ reductions and efficient resource utilization makes it a promising avenue for decarbonization.