Heidelberg Materials: ammonia cracking for cement production

Cement manufacturer Heidelberg Materials, engineering consultancy Stopford and Cranfield University have partnered to conduct a feasibility study on the use of a cracked ammonia fuel mix to power cement kilns. The project, which will be based at Heidelberg’s Lancaster site in Ribblesdale, has received funding from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) fund.

The year-long research project will build on a successful demonstration at the same site in which hydrogen was used as part of a fuel mix to power a cement kiln.

We have already proved the success of using hydrogen as part of a lower carbon fuel mix, but its storage and transportation are technically challenging and, at present, costs are prohibitive.

Ammonia potentially offers a more energy-dense, cost-effective source of hydrogen that could be used as a fuel enhancer to allow the use of more lower grade waste derived fuels to power the kiln and cut CO2 emissions.

It is yet another example of our involvement in breaking new ground as we continue our decarbonisation journey. If the project is successful, further work can be carried out to explore the commercial viability of using ammonia as a hydrogen carrier for combustion within cement manufacturing as well as other industries.

Marian Garfield, Sustainability Director, Heidelberg Materials, in her organisation’s official press release, 13 March 2024

According to Cranfield University, switching to the lower carbon hydrogen mix would potentially reduce emissions from the cement and concrete industry by about 16%. The collaboration will seek to establish a “most economic” mode of on-site ammonia cracking to release hydrogen for the kilns.

This project will bring us another step closer to enabling manufacturing operations to use hydrogen fuel, helping to decarbonise industry. Although there are clear challenges with making hydrogen feasible for industrial use, innovative collaborations such as this will certainly move us closer to widespread adoption.

Mingming Zhu, Senior Lecturer, Chemical Engineering, Cranfield University, in his organisation’s official press release, 13 March 2024

Ammonia is rapidly being considered the most promising hydrogen vector for global energy markets, I am looking forward to working with our project partners to spearhead innovation in the cement industry and help to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen by other UK industries.

Deb Pal, Consultancy Director, Stopford, in Cranfield University’s official press release, 13 March 2024

Heildelberg’s announcement comes exactly a year after Mitsubishi UBE Cement Corporation began ammonia co-combustion tests  for cement clinker production at its Yamaguchi site in Japan.