Carbon capture: decarbonising cement production today

Why cement producers are turning to carbon capture

Cement manufacture presents one of the toughest decarbonisation challenges in UK industry. The problem lies in chemistry rather than energy. When limestone transforms into clinker in the kiln, the chemical reaction itself releases CO₂. Switching to cleaner fuels solves only part of the emissions picture. These process emissions remain regardless of the heat source.

As a result, carbon capture technology has moved from pilot schemes to commercial deployment. Cement producers now use it in two main ways. The first captures CO₂ from kiln exhaust gases and stores it permanently underground. The second injects captured carbon into concrete during mixing, where it mineralises and locks away.

The urgency is clear when you consider the sector’s footprint. Cement production accounts for roughly 8% of global CO₂ emissions. For UK businesses that specify concrete or work in construction supply chains, understanding how the industry is tackling these emissions matters for tender compliance, supply chain due diligence, and Scope 3 reporting.

Process emissions drive the need for capture technology

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre explains that full decarbonisation of cement requires addressing process emissions directly. Combustion emissions can be reduced by switching fuels, but the CO₂ released when calcium carbonate breaks down into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide during clinker production cannot be avoided through fuel changes alone.

Consequently, the Commission states that CO₂ capture must be applied either to both combustion and process emissions or used alongside a zero-carbon heat source. This technical reality has pushed carbon capture to the centre of cement decarbonisation strategies across Europe and beyond.

The U.S. Department of Energy has assessed the potential impact. It reports that carbon capture systems operating at 95% efficiency can reduce life-cycle CO₂ emissions from cement production by nearly 70%. This figure accounts for the additional energy required to run the capture equipment. Meanwhile, academic reviews published in 2025 conclude that point-source capture at cement plants may reduce up to 90% of total plant emissions in certain configurations.

Several technical approaches are being developed and tested. These include post-combustion capture, oxyfuel combustion, calcium looping, and direct separation technologies. Each method tackles the challenge from a different angle, but all aim to intercept CO₂ before it enters the atmosphere.

EU-funded project demonstrates 90% emissions reduction

The CLEANKER project, funded by the European Union, developed a calcium looping approach specifically for cement plants. The technology aims to cut plant emissions by up to 90%. Calcium looping works by using calcium oxide to absorb CO₂ from flue gases. The resulting calcium carbonate is then heated to release a concentrated CO₂ stream for storage or use, while regenerating the calcium oxide for further capture cycles.

This approach integrates with existing cement production processes more easily than some alternatives. It takes advantage of materials already present in cement manufacture, which reduces the need for entirely new chemical inputs. The project’s results have informed commercial development efforts across Europe.

Other technical routes are also advancing. Post-combustion capture uses chemical solvents to separate CO₂ from exhaust gases after combustion. Oxyfuel combustion burns fuel in pure oxygen rather than air, producing a flue gas that is mainly CO₂ and water vapour. Direct separation technologies aim to capture CO₂ at the point of release during the chemical reaction itself.

Major producers commit to permanent geological storage

Heidelberg Materials has stated that its carbon capture projects focus on high-purity CO₂ from clinker production. The company stores captured carbon permanently in underground geological formations. This approach treats captured CO₂ as a waste stream to be isolated rather than a resource to be used.

Similarly, Holcim describes carbon capture, utilisation, and storage as playing an essential role in managing emissions that remain after other decarbonisation measures have been applied. Both companies position the technology as a necessary complement to energy efficiency improvements, alternative fuels, and clinker substitution rather than a standalone solution.

Permanent geological storage involves injecting compressed CO₂ into porous rock formations deep underground, typically former oil and gas reservoirs or saline aquifers. The CO₂ is trapped by impermeable cap rock layers above. Monitoring systems track the stored carbon to ensure it remains securely contained. This method offers long-term sequestration measured in geological timescales.

Captured carbon enters concrete as a permanent mineral

A different application embeds captured CO₂ directly into building materials. CarbonCure’s technology injects captured carbon into fresh concrete during mixing. The CO₂ reacts with calcium ions in the cement paste to form calcium carbonate minerals. These minerals become permanently embedded in the concrete matrix.

Importantly, this process maintains the concrete’s compressive strength. In some formulations, the mineralisation reaction can allow cement content to be reduced slightly without compromising performance. The embedded CO₂ remains locked in the concrete throughout the building’s service life and beyond.

Broader research into construction-sector carbon utilisation identifies mineralisation pathways as particularly attractive. They create value-added products that can be used directly in construction without requiring changes to building codes, design standards, or construction methods. This compatibility with existing practices reduces barriers to adoption.

Reviews of carbonated building materials note that the carbon remains sequestered even if the concrete is eventually crushed and recycled. The calcium carbonate formed during mineralisation is chemically stable under normal environmental conditions. Therefore, the storage is considered durable rather than temporary.

What this means for UK construction and manufacturing

For businesses that purchase concrete or cement-based products, these developments have practical implications. Suppliers are beginning to offer lower-carbon concrete mixes that incorporate carbon capture in their production. These products can help reduce Scope 3 emissions in construction projects and infrastructure work.

Public sector frameworks increasingly require carbon reduction evidence in tender submissions. Specifying concrete produced with carbon capture technology can support compliance with Procurement Policy Note 06/21 and similar requirements. It provides documented emissions reductions that can be included in whole-life carbon assessments.

Supply chain due diligence is also affected. If your business reports Scope 3 emissions under the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting requirements or voluntarily through frameworks such as the Carbon Disclosure Project, the carbon intensity of purchased cement and concrete matters. Consequently, understanding which suppliers are deploying capture technology helps inform sourcing decisions.

The technology’s deployment schedule matters too. Cement plants are long-lived assets with decades-long operational lives. Retrofit projects to add carbon capture equipment take years to plan, finance, and construct. However, once operational, these systems can deliver substantial emissions reductions across a plant’s remaining service life.

For manufacturers who use cement in their own products or processes, the cost implications are worth monitoring. Carbon capture equipment requires capital investment and ongoing operating costs. These costs will likely feed through into cement and concrete pricing over time. Early engagement with suppliers can help manage budget planning and identify opportunities to trial lower-carbon alternatives.

Carbon capture deployment in numbers

• Cement production accounts for approximately 8% of global CO₂ emissions, making it one of the largest industrial sources of carbon.
• Carbon capture systems operating at 95% efficiency can reduce cement production’s life-cycle CO₂ emissions by nearly 70%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
• Point-source capture at cement plants may reduce up to 90% of total plant emissions in optimised configurations, based on 2025 academic assessments.
• The EU-funded CLEANKER project demonstrated that calcium looping technology could cut cement plant emissions by up to 90%.
• Process emissions from clinker production cannot be eliminated by fuel switching alone, because they result from the chemical transformation of limestone.
• Captured CO₂ can be stored permanently in geological formations or mineralised into concrete, where it remains locked for the building’s entire life cycle.

Considerations for businesses using cement and concrete

If your business works in construction, infrastructure, or manufacturing that relies on cement-based materials, several practical questions arise. First, which of your suppliers are deploying or planning to deploy carbon capture? This information helps you assess future emissions performance and cost trajectories.

Second, how will you incorporate lower-carbon concrete into project specifications? Building standards and design codes generally do not yet distinguish between conventional and carbon-captured concrete in structural terms. However, environmental product declarations and whole-life carbon assessments increasingly do. Therefore, procurement teams need clarity on how to specify and verify these products.

Third, what timeline should you expect for wider availability? Cement plants are capital-intensive and slow to change. Deployment of carbon capture will be phased over many years. Understanding which regions and which suppliers will adopt the technology first helps with long-term planning.

For businesses subject to carbon reporting requirements, the granularity of emissions data matters. Generic emissions factors for cement and concrete may not reflect the performance of specific products made with carbon capture. Requesting supplier-specific data or environmental product declarations provides more accurate Scope 3 reporting.

Businesses preparing for carbon reduction programmes aligned with PPN 06/21 should consider how cement and concrete choices affect project-level carbon budgets. Whole-life carbon assessments for new buildings and infrastructure now routinely include embodied carbon from materials. Specifying lower-carbon concrete can reduce total project emissions significantly, particularly in concrete-intensive projects such as foundations, frame structures, and civil engineering works.

Training and knowledge-sharing also play a role. Procurement teams, quantity surveyors, and project managers need to understand the differences between carbon capture methods, mineralisation processes, and their implications for product specifications. Professional development in sustainable construction materials supports informed decision-making across the supply chain.

Where to find detailed technical and policy information

The European Commission’s information on carbon capture and storage provides policy context and technical guidance relevant to UK and European cement producers.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s carbon capture research programme publishes technical assessments of capture efficiency and emissions reduction potential across industrial sectors, including cement.

For businesses exploring carbon reporting and compliance requirements, understanding the role of carbon capture in Scope 3 emissions helps refine reporting accuracy and reduction strategies.

The International Energy Agency’s analysis of cement sector decarbonisation examines global trends, technology deployment, and policy developments affecting the industry’s transition to net zero.