EU Innovation Fund Backs Heidelberg Materials’ GeZero Initiative for Carbon-Captured Cement Production

Heidelberg Materials’ cement plant in Geseke, Germany (copyright: Steffen Höft for Heidelberg Materials)

(IN BRIEF) Heidelberg Materials has secured €191 million in funding from the EU Innovation Fund for its GeZero project, in partnership with the Geseke cement plant in Northern Germany. GeZero aims to establish a comprehensive Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) value chain at the plant, capturing 700,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually starting in 2029. The EU Innovation Fund’s support complements Heidelberg Materials’ investments. The project will officially launch on January 1, 2024, making Geseke the first German cement plant to produce carbon-captured net-zero cement and clinker. The initiative includes constructing a capture facility, a new oxyfuel kiln, and a CO₂ transport solution via train. Construction is set to begin in 2026, with commissioning in 2029. The EU Innovation Fund prioritizes projects that offer significant emission reductions and European value-added.

(PRESS RELEASE) HEIDELBERG, 15-Dec-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Heidelberg Materials (ETR: HEI), one of the world’s largest building materials companies, in collaboration with the EU Innovation Fund, has successfully concluded a Grant Agreement to secure funding for its flagship GeZero project at the Geseke cement plant in Northern Germany. GeZero is designed to establish a comprehensive Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) value chain at the inland location, with the goal of capturing 700,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually starting from 2029.

The EU Innovation Fund, one of the world’s largest funding programs for innovative low-carbon technologies, will provide €191 million in financial support to Heidelberg Materials to realize this groundbreaking project. This funding complements the substantial investments made by the company. Following the successful conclusion of the Grant Agreement, the GeZero project is set to officially launch on January 1, 2024. Geseke will become the first German cement plant to produce carbon-captured net-zero cement and clinker.

Dr. Nicola Kimm, Chief Sustainability Officer and Member of the Managing Board of Heidelberg Materials, expressed the significance of this achievement, stating, “The successful Grant Agreement demonstrates the relevance of GeZero for the decarbonisation of our sector, and the trust that European authorities place in our approach. We just recently introduced our evoZero brand, the world’s first carbon captured net-zero cement on the market. The product will initially be offered through our Brevik CCS project in Norway. Once other capture projects such as GeZero start operations, these plants will also be able to deliver net-zero cement and clinker to customers, significantly speeding up the decarbonisation of our industry.”

Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action, and Energy and Deputy Prime Minister of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, emphasized the importance of the GeZero project for sustainable cement production, stating, “About one third of the German cement production is located in North Rhine-Westphalia. We are therefore delighted that the first carbon-free cement plant in Geseke in the district of Soest is a flagship project for a sustainable and climate-neutral future in the cement industry. GeZero shows how climate protection through new technologies and processes can also be achieved in energy-intensive industries. The project represents a decisive step towards a future-proof cement production and the transition to a net-zero industry in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and beyond.”

GeZero’s unique approach includes the construction of a capture facility, a new oxyfuel kiln, and a CO₂ transport solution via train, bridging the gap until necessary pipeline infrastructure becomes available. This initiative aims to capture around 700,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually and transport it to Wintershall Dea’s CO₂ hub for safe storage in the North Sea. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2026, with commissioning planned for 2029.

Christian Knell, General Manager Germany of Heidelberg Materials, highlighted the pioneering nature of the GeZero project, stating, “Together with our partners, we walk the talk and pave the way for CCUS in Germany. GeZero will complement our global project portfolio with a truly unique approach. We are developing a promising novel solution for inland cement sites, with the intention to inspire industry peers and other emission-intensive sectors to follow.”

The EU Innovation Fund prioritizes flagship projects that offer significant emission reductions and European value-added. In response to its third call for large-scale projects, the European Commission selected 37 out of 239 applications to receive funding and sign the Grant Agreement. Heidelberg Materials’ ANRAV project in Bulgaria also received support from the EU Innovation Fund last year, aiming to establish Eastern Europe’s first full-chain CCUS facility with a capture capacity of about 800,000 t CO₂ per year starting in 2028.

About Heidelberg Materials

Heidelberg Materials is one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of building materials and solutions with leading market positions in cement, aggregates, and ready-mixed concrete. We are represented in more than 50 countries with around 51,000 employees at almost 3,000 locations. At the centre of our actions lies the responsibility for the environment. As the front runner on the path to carbon neutrality and circular economy in the building materials industry, we are working on sustainable building materials and solutions for the future. We enable new opportunities for our customers through digitalisation.

Media contact:

Christoph Beumelburg
Group Spokesman, Director Group Communication & Investor Relations

+49 6221 481 13249
+49 6221 481 13217
HeidelbergCement AG
Berliner Straße 6
69120 Heidelberg
Germany

SOURCE: HeidelbergCement AG