On 30 March 2023, Sino-German Cement Sector Low Carbon Development Forum was organised by the China Cement Association (CCA) with the support by GIZ and AHK Greater China in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province. The workshop was moderated by Mr Fan Yongbin, Deputy Secretary General, Director of the Department of Science and Technology Development of CCA.
With the theme of “Innovation-driven, Energy-saving and Carbon-reducing, driving Carbon Peaking,” the on-site event witnessed specialists from China and German companies and universities offering suggestions to promote the policy, technical, and standard of low-carbon green development in the cement sector.
Mr Gao Dengbang, President of China Cement Association, delivered the opening speech. He proposed that in the context of driving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, the cement industry should vigorously promote green and low-carbon development, improve energy efficiency, and increase efforts to eliminate backward cement production capacity. Low carbon development in the cement industry with technological innovation should be further promoted and international experience exchange and mutual learning should be strengthened.
Lv Guixin, raw materials department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stated that implementation of the policies of off-peak production and capacity reduction and replacement should continue. It is important to continue deepening the supply-side structural reform, eliminate ineffective supply, and resolve excess capacity.
Liu Jianhua, Vice President of the China Construction Materials Association, suggested that scientific and technological innovation in the cement industry should be promoted. It is important to recognise the urgency of scientific and technological innovation and increase green technology development, such as green hydrogen energy utilisation and solar energy utilisation. In order to strengthen technological innovation and promote original and disruptive technology development, it is important to optimise the evaluation mechanism for rewarding scientific and technological innovation results, and promote high-level international exchanges and cooperation.
Following the speeches, the representatives from Chinese and German enterprises, university experts, and industrials associations gave their presentations.
The Chinese enterprises shared their innovative green products and demonstrated the effectiveness of their products in reducing emissions in real production scenarios, including high quality high temperature resistant casting material, flue gas SCR denitrification engineering, multi-pollutant collaborative efficient control technology, high efficiency ash removal, special valves for cement production facilities, waste combustion, cement meal grinding aid, oxy-fuel combustion, etc.
The German enterprises introduced their low carbon technology solutions for cement industry, including greenhouse gas emissions measurement and monitoring equipment, green hydrogen, energy-saving equipment, intelligent control system, clinker substitution, waste treatment, and co-incineration. The German enterprises also introduced the technical development path of the German cement industry, the current situation of the industry and relevant regulations and policies.
Professor Wang Xiaohong from Jinan University presented the digital transformation for green and low-carbon development of cement producers. Technologies such as industrial Internet of Things, Intelligent Sensing, Big Data, and Digital Twins were introduced, along with the technology benefits when applied in industrial settings. Professor Wang also presented some cases of pilot cement plants with advanced intelligent energy management systems developed by the research team.
The representative of China National Testing & Inspection Holding Group shared the report on the analysis of cement product quality in China in 2022, the report on the quality and development trend of refractory material for cement industry and gave policy recommendations for improving cement product quality in future development.
The industrial association mainly presented the road map of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality for China’s cement sector. The potential for current and emerging technologies in carbon reduction were analysed and related policy recommendations were proposed for future development.
Kong Xiangzhong, Executive Chairman of the China Cement Association, summarised the conference, proposing that technological innovation should continue, technical exchanges and cooperation should be strengthened, and consistent emission reduction in the cement industry should be promoted.
During the Sino-German Cement Sector Low Carbon Development Forum, both China and Germany had an in-depth exchange on green and low-carbon technology research, advanced technology applications, the current development status of the cement industry, and the relevant policy and regulatory environment. China and Germany share common goals and directions in promoting green development in the cement sector. There is still a lot of room for cooperation between China and Germany in areas such as industry standard setting, advanced material development and energy-saving equipment applications. The Chinese and German participants all expressed their high expectations for future cooperation and market development in the cement industry and hope to have more exchange opportunities in the future.
