Integrating recycled concrete carbonation and calciner electrification for low‐carbon cement: Techno‐economic assessment

Abstract This study evaluates the techno‐economic feasibility of integrating a recycled concrete fines (RCF) wet carbonation process into an electrified‐calciner cement plant focusing on energy consumption, CO 2 avoidance, and cost implications at an industrial scale. The proposed system is compared with a stand‐alone electrified calciner, an electrified‐calciner plant using non‐carbonated RCF directly in the cement blend, and an electrified‐calciner plant equipped with monoethanolamine (MEA)‐based capture. Results show that the RCF carbonation process is energy‐intensive (3.35 MJ el /kg) and provides limited decarbonization compared to MEA capture. Under the European energy mix, the CO 2 avoidance rate reaches 61.7%, only slightly higher than calciner electrification alone and largely driven by clinker substitution rather than by CO 2 uptake during carbonation. Economically, the increased cement production and lower capital expenses associated with carbonation result in a modest improvement in CO 2 avoidance cost (200.7 €/t) compared to the MEA‐based capture option (217.4 €/t).