2.A.1 - Cement Production

The remarks below refer to production of cement clinkers and clinker grinding (only relevant as a source for particulate matter). The clinker-burning with intensive use of energy emits climate-relevant gases. CO₂ accounts for the great majority of these emissions, but heavy metals are important too.

cement clinker

Activity data are determined via summation of figures for individual plants (until 1994, activity data were determined on the basis of data of the official member association BDZ). As of 1995, following optimisation of data collection within the association, activity data were compiled by the German Cement Works Association (VDZ), and by its VDZ research institute (located in Düsseldorf), via surveys of German cement plants. The data are supplemented with data for plants that are not BDZ members (in part, also VDZ estimates).

For internal reasons within the association, the data for the years from 2015 onwards is not available from the VDZ. Instead, the cement clinker specification is based on aggregated plant specific ETS-data of DEHSt. A comparison for the years 2005-2014 showed a good correlation between information of the European Emissions Trading (ETS) and the cement clinker production data of the VDZ. So, the cement clinker information from 2015 onwards is based on aggregated data of ETS. All companies are required to report production data within the framework of CO₂-ETS. The EU monitoring guidelines for emissions trading specify a maximum accuracy of 2.5%. Furthermore CKD was taken into account.

According to the VDZ, the share of bypass dust in clinker production was between 1% and 2% between 2009 and 2016. For the inclusion as an activity rate, it can be assumed that the share was 2 % from 2009 onwards, for time before only 1%.

grinded cement

The annual amount of grinded cement is provided by VDZ, too, but calculated based on statistical data ¹⁾

The emission factors used for emissions calculation are based on figures from research projects ²⁾³⁾ as well as from expert judgements.

In the German cement industry, dust separated from clinker burning exhaust gas is returned to the burning process. As a result, there is no need to take account of significant losses of particles via the exhaust-gas pathway. - On the other hand, particulate matter emissions occur during clinker grinding.

The EF applied for Hg fits very well with aggregated figures from individual plants as available from the PRTR-reporting.

Table 1: Overview of emission factors applied for 2019 (or most recently available) up to the current cut-off point

¹ The data for PAH 1-4 provided in the NFR tables only represents the sum the four PAHs, in this case even only for B[a]P. ² Outside NFR tables, several more PAH specimen are known to be emitted here (research result for EPA-PAH, PAH16 standard).

According to research results, HCB emissions are not occuring from cement production and are, hence, reported as not applicable (NA).

The table of EF is related to two different AD sets. For the majority pollutants, annual amounts of burnt clinker are applied as activity data. In contrast, regarding PM emissions, the annual amount of grinded clinker is applied (included in further materials as domestic burnt clinker). Unfortunately, within the NFR tables only one AD (burnt clinker) can be provided.

All trends in emissions correspond to trends of emission factors in table above. No rising trends are to identify.

Emission trends in NFR 2.A.1

note: for 2023 further decreasing because of less production