A joint venture in the province of Almeria puts CO2 at the heart of the circular economy


A joint venture in the province of Almeria puts CO2 at the heart of the circular economy

Greenhouse gas here is not just a cliché term

There is a cement plant located in the municipality of Carboneras, on the southeast coast of Spain, and like all other similar facilities, it is a major emitter of CO2 into the atmosphere. This is about to change with the recent announcement that three companies – LafargeHolcim Spain, Carbon Clean and Sistemas de Calor – have created ECCO2, a joint venture for the development of a carbon dioxide capture plant.

The objective of the project is to capture CO2 from emissions generated during the cement manufacturing process and then treat it to later agricultural use. The captured carbon will be used in greenhouses in the region, where it will improve crop productivity through a process known as carbon fertilizationwhich mimics and enhances natural photosynthesis.

After all, CO2 is like food for plants.

Carbon fertilization increases the eco-efficiency of crops by reducing the proportion of water and soil per kg of crop production. This circular carbon economy project will reduce CO2 emissions and provide a sustainable future for the region.

Isidoro Miranda, CEO of LafargeHolcim Spain, the company that owns the plant, points out that “thanks to the creation of this joint venture we are getting closer and closer to the realization of this project which will contribute to improving the competitiveness and efficiency of our factory, but also of local agricultural production compared to high-tech greenhouses who are already using this technology in other European countries.

He adds that “this circular economy business model, which will initially start with the capture of 10% of carbon dioxide emissions, will become an important step in the roadmap towards the decarbonization of the building materials sector.

The sustainable growth of industry and agriculture is a priority and strategic issue for the future of the province of Almería. ECCO2 was developed in response to this and will improve the environment by increasing the productivity of intensive agriculture in the region. It will also be eligible for European Next Generation funding.

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