Heidelberg Materials and the Government of Canada have completed a Memorandum of Understanding in support of Heidelberg Materials’ project to develop the cement industry’s first global full-scale carbon capture and storage facility in Alberta.
The new $1.4 billion facility, which will be part of the company’s Edmonton plant, is scheduled to be operational by late 2026 and will capture more than 1 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.
“The Government of Canada’s commitment is a great acknowledgment of our efforts and marks yet another key milestone in our eager decarbonization journey,” said Dr Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board.
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry said “There is a growing urgency for rapid decarbonization in high-emitting sectors, including the cement and concrete industry, and by working hand in hand with the industry, we can support the adoption of innovative technologies that will contribute to lower emissions and increased competitiveness.”
von Achten said his company will work quickly to progress this industry leading project. “Our North American sites and the Edmonton CCUS facility in particular play a vital role in achieving Heidelberg Materials’ ambitious CO₂ reduction commitment,” said von Achten.
Chris Ward, President and CEO of Heidelberg Materials North America said “Our Edmonton CCUS project as the world’s first carbon neutral cement plant is another milestone in Heidelberg Materials’ ambitious drive to lead the industry to net zero, and we are excited to begin realizing this as soon as possible.”
Amarjeet Sohi, Mayor of Edmonton said he is pleased to see the project move forward. “The Edmonton region is uniquely positioned to decarbonize large industrial facilities such as this cement plant, and this announcement today by Heidelberg Materials and the Government of Canada supports the City of Edmonton’s commitment to transition to a low-carbon future and reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” said Sohi.
The company’s Edmonton CCUS facility is part of Heidelberg Materials’ growing portfolio of CCUS projects. In 2024, Heidelberg Materials will go on stream with the world’s first industrial-scale carbon capture plant in the cement industry in Brevik, Norway. The CCUS facility will capture and store 50 per cent of the plant’s annual emissions.
Once operational, the Edmonton CCUS project as the world’s first full-scale carbon neutral cement plant is anticipated to capture up to 95 per cent of the plant’s total CO₂ emissions. Having the building materials industry’s most ambitious CO₂ reduction targets and a steadily growing portfolio of CCUS projects, Heidelberg Materials is an integral player in solving the climate change challenge.
Concrete is the most used building material on the planet, and the cement needed to make that concrete accounts for 7 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions.
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