We are delighted to announce that Carmeuse’s LEOPARD project, aiming to revolutionize lime production through innovative decarbonization technologies, has been selected for funding by the European Innovation Fund.
The LEOPARD project represents a significant step forward in the decarbonization of industrial lime production in Belgium. At its core, the innovation lies in a hybrid approach that integrates retrofitted kilns for CO2 preconcentration with a membrane-based carbon capture unit. This synergy increases the CO₂ concentration in the kiln flue gases before capture, resulting in significantly lower operating costs compared to conventional post-combustion capture technologies. Moreover, this approach avoids the generation of any additional air emissions, hazardous or chemical waste materials.
Our project, located in Aisemont, Belgium, will combine bioenergy with cutting-edge carbon capture technologies to achieve deep emissions reductions. By deploying these technologies, Carmeuse will establish the first zero-carbon lime production unit in Belgium.
The project is expected to prevent over 70,000 tons of CO2 emissions at the site each year and remove additional CO2 from the atmosphere through a process called bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS). The technology relies only on electrical energy, making it an attractive solution for widespread adoption for decarbonizing the lime sector and also supporting our ambition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
This support from the European Innovation Fund will enable Carmeuse to advance the LEOPARD project, refine its technologies, and facilitate replication at other sites, accelerating the transition to decarbonized lime production.
