Talked at Developing Technologies in the Cement Sector and Energy Conversion COP 27 Climate Conference: Zero Emissions is Possible with New Technologies

At the side event moderated by TÜRKÇİMENTO at the COP27 United Nations Climate Summit Conference of the Parties, the pros and cons of new technologies like carbon capture and storage methods and hydrogen, as well as their potential for application in the industry, were discussed. The fact that in sectors that are difficult to carry out reductions, greenhouse gas emissions cannot be prevented even by switching to 100% carbon-free fuels, and zero emissions are not possible without new technologies was addressed. 

More than 40 thousand participants and more than 100 politicians from nearly 194 countries participated in COP27, the world's most comprehensive summit in combating the climate crisis, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. At COP 27, which was organized to reduce global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, Turkey announced its updated National Contribution Statement. According to the statement, a 41 percent decrease will be made from the increase in 2030. Emissions will reach a maximum by 2038 at the latest and net zero by 2053. It was also informed at the conference that the details would be shared with the public later on.

The side event of COP27, where the pros and cons of new technologies such as carbon capture and storage methods and hydrogen as well as their potential in the industry were discussed, was held  as moderated by TÜRKÇİMENTO, the umbrella association of the cement sector, and under the title of “Developing Technologies and Energy Transition: Barriers and Possibilities for Turkey.”

Organized jointly by Özyeğin University and TÜRKÇİMENTO, the event was moderated by  Canan Derinöz Gencel, TÜRKÇİMENTO Environment and Climate Change Manager. In addition, in her presentation, she talked about the developing technologies, obstacles, and the needs of the industry to apply new technologies in our country. Underlining that this sector plays a strategic role in the development of our developing country, she stated that energy prices and changing exchange rates are among the challenges experienced in 2022.    

CEMENT IS ONE OF THE SECTORS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO APPLY REDUCTION    

“Sectors where reduction is difficult,” which refers to sectors where transition is not easy because new technologies are not used or the cost continues to be preventive, was one of the topics mentioned at the event. It was mentioned that the manufacturing sectors, especially the cement industry and iron and steel, and chemistry sectors, produce basic materials and that inevitable emissions occur in most of those sectors.    

Canan Derinöz Gencel, TÜRKÇİMENTO Environment and Climate Change Manager, said, “Even switching to 100% carbon-free fuels cannot prevent greenhouse gas emissions. Without new technologies, unfortunately, zero emissions are not possible. There are technologies available to substantially decarbonize these sectors, but they are still in development and are quite costly.” Continuing her speech with a  special focus on cement, Gencel said, “There are emissions related to the conversion of limestone, which is a raw material, into cement in our sector. We call them process emissions. It is because limestone produces a significant amount of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO₂). The second source is energy emissions as high temperatures of up to 1500 degrees are required to transform the raw material. Of course we have a carbon reduction strategy. I must say that traditional methods also play an important role in this strategy. We can reduce energy emissions with alternative fuels containing biomass or energy efficiency investments. Also the use of different raw materials instead of clinker, which is one of the main ingredients of cement, will be beneficial for emission reduction. Still, these conventional methods are not enough for net zero emissions and we need emerging technologies."   

THE TURKISH INDUSTRY NEEDS INFRASTRUCTURE TO APPLY NEW TECHNOLOGIES    

Mentioning the needs under the titles of R&D, policy and legal framework, supportive infrastructure, government support, acceptance by society, and education, Gencel said, “First of all, we need research and development projects. Pilot projects, industrial scale projects, and public financing are required. We are in a sector with high energy demand. Access to clean energy sources and the availability of sufficient hydrogen to be used by industry are among the issues that must be addressed. And we need infrastructure for sure.”   

At the event moderated by  Canan Derinöz Gencel, TÜRKÇİMENTO Environment and Climate Change Manager, Prof. Dr. M. Pınar Mengüç,  Director of Özyeğin University Center for Energy, Environment, and Economy and President of FYE, talked about the energy technologies in Turkey. She also provided information about the opportunities and barriers related to the use of energy technologies in sectors whose reduction is difficult.     

Canan M. Özsoy, Senior Researcher at Özyeğin University Center for Energy, Environment, and Economy, mentioned important points about hydrogen technologies.