How the cement and concrete industry can cut energy use in half

A report this week urged the cement industry to significantly reduce carbon emissions in its production processes in order for the climate change goals of the Paris agreement to be met. The cement and concrete sector is one of the most energy intensive of all manufacturing industries, and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)’s report found that leading cement companies need to double their efforts in order to achieve the Paris agreement targets. Cement production accounts for 6% of global carbon emissions – second only to steel – and is a key material in concrete, which is the world’s most consumed product after water. Cement and concrete production facilities use a range of electric motor-driven equipment, including: Dust collectors Conveyors Mixers Powder-feeding systems Water and admixture pumps While the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions in this sector is concerning, there exists a considerable opportunity for optimising these processes in order to cut energy consumption. Installing the latest energy-efficient motors, pumps and fans goes some way to cutting carbon emissions, and combining this equipment with variable-speed drives can unlock even greater savings. A VSD allows equipment to use only as much power as the application demands, with savings of up to 60% achievable. As an example, a pump running at half speed consumes one-eighth of the energy compared to one running at full speed. Making such significant energy savings means companies within the cement and concrete industry can benefit from reduced costs while enhancing their reputation as a sustainable, environmentally-responsible business. Gibbons is officially approved to stock, distribute and offer local value-added support for ABB drives. This means our clients benefit from packaged solutions, the latest energy-efficient products and access to an advanced logistics network. To discuss the benefits of using variable-speed drives in your business, call Ian Potter on 01621 868 138 or email ian@gibbonsgroup.co.uk.

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