Finding least-cost net-zero CO_2e strategies for the European cement industry using geospatial techno-economic modelling

Cement production is responsible for approximately 7% of anthropogenic CO₂-equivalent (CO_2e) emissions, while characterised by low margins and the highest carbon intensity of any industry per unit of revenue. Hence, economically viable decarbonisation strategies must be found. The costs of many emission reduction strategies depend on geographical factors, such as plant location and proximity to feedstock or on synergies with other cement producers. The current literature lacks quantification of least-cost decarbonisation strategies of a country or region's total cement sector, while taking stock of these geospatial differences. Here, we quantify which intervention ensembles could lead to least-cost, full decarbonisation of the European cement industry, for multiple European regions. We show that least-cost strategies include the use of calcined clay cements coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS) from existing cement plants and direct air capture with carbon storage (DACCS) in locations close to CO₂ storage sites. We find that these strategies could cost €72–€75 per tonne of cement (tcement⁻¹, up from €46–€51.5 t_cement⁻¹), which could be offset by future costs of cement production otherwise amounting to €105–€130 t_cement⁻¹ taking the cost of CO_2e emission certificates into account. The analysis shows that for economically viable decarbonisation, collaborative and region-catered approaches become imperative, while supplementary cementitious materials including calcined clays have a key role.