Adbri and Calix have secured an $11 million grant from the Federal Government’s Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) Hubs and Technologies Program to explore the manufacture of low-emissions lime on a commercial scale.
Adbri will utilise Calix’s Low Emissions Intensity Lime and Cement (LEILAC) technology to develop a low emissions lime kiln in Kwinana, WA. It will also collaborate with CarbonTP and the Heavy Industry Low Emissions Technology CoOperative Research Centre (HILT-CRC).
The plant will produce lime using renewable power and will operate only during peak renewable electricity production/low electricity cost periods to load switch.
Further consideration will also be given to using alternative energy sources, such as hydrogen and natural gas.
Plant construction and demonstration will include raw material feedstock contributed by Adbri.
CO2 emitted from the process will be captured and provided to the proposed South West Hub Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project. Once the plant is operational, CO2 will be fed into the system for permanent storage, creating truly zero emissions lime.
“This project is an important step in demonstrating pathways to reduce the emissions of CO2 from heavy industry for lime, and then cement,” HILT-CRC chief executive Felicity Lloyd said.
“The major sectors of aluminium and steel are users of lime, and the project will be of direct interest to them in better understanding how to reduce the emissions intensity of their products.”
Adbri and Calix will proceed with the next stages of the project under the Heads of Agreement announced in March 2021, including the finalisation of commercial terms and further technical work.
This includes undertaking a feasibility study for the project followed by a front-end engineering and design phase.
“As a leading Australian producer of lime aspiring to be net zero by 2050, we recognise it is a difficult manufacturing process to abate,” Adbri managing director and chief executive Nick Miller said.
“The funding commitment represents a significant milestone in our collaboration with Calix to develop carbon capture and storage technology to reduce emissions from lime production.”
“I am proud our first commercial scale lime kiln is being developed here in Australia, creating local jobs, utilising and developing local talent, and helping to future-proof our vital local manufacturing sector,” Calix managing director and chief executive Phil Hodgson added.