Optimising Smart Energy System for Decarbonising Cement Production Operations

The cement industry, known for its high energy consumption and significant carbon emissions, is facing the challenge of reducing its emissions. The calcination process and the use of coal as fuel in the kiln are the primary contributors to carbon emissions in cement production. A smart energy system incorporating two decarbonisation strategies can be a solution to this issue. The strategies include the usage of alternative fuel and the incorporation of a carbon capture unit. In this paper, a mathematical model of a smart energy system has been formulated to optimise the energy flow based on the demand in a cement plant. The model aims to minimise the total annualised cost of a smart energy system. A case study is solved to illustrate this model. The case study focuses on optimising a smart energy system to decarbonise the daily operations of a cement production plant. Results from the case study show that the two decarbonisation strategies should be implemented simultaneously in order to thoroughly decarbonise a cement production plant. As a result, a daily cost of USD 221,811 is required to reduce carbon emissions by 1,313 t in the cement production plant.