Mexico’s Cemex takes a step towards solar energy plant

Mexico’s cement maker Cemex and Swiss solar company Synhelion said on Wednesday that they have produced the world’s first solar clinker, a key component of cement, which they described as a step towards full cement solar plants.

“The production of the first solar clinker is an exciting milestone for this transformational technology. It is proof of our commitment to deliver tangible outcomes through innovation to achieve our goal of delivering only net-zero CO2 concrete by 2050,” Fernando A. Gonzalez, CEO of Cemex, said in a statement.

"Cemex is building a better future, and that future must be sustainable," Gonzalez added.  

The technology they have built converts concentrated sunlight into the hottest existing solar process heat – beyond 1,500°C – on the market, the companies explained in the statement.

The element Clinker is produced by putting limestone, clay, and other materials together in a rotary kiln at temperatures nearing 1,500°C.

Instead of fossil fuels which produce around 40 percent of direct CO2 emissions during the process of heating the mixture, the companies have used solar energy.

Cement makers have been pressured to find solutions to reduce their carbon emissions. Cement alone contributes to about 8 percent of global CO2 emissions, according to Chatham House.