< PreviousF orty of the world’s leading cement and concrete manufacturers have joined forces to accelerate the shift to greener concrete by pledging to cut CO2 emissions by a further 25% by 2030, marking a decisive step in the race to ‘net zero’ concrete by 2050. The move by the members of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) marks the biggest global commitment by an industry to net zero so far, bringing together companies from the Americas, Africa, Asia, including India and China, and Europe. It follows the September announcement during New York Climate Week that the GCCA has become the fi rst global ‘heavy’ industry accelerator for the UN’s global Race to Zero. GCCA members account for 80% of the global cement industry volume outside of China, and also include several large Chinese manufacturers. The association counts companies such as CEMEX, CNBM, CRH, HeidelbergCement, Holcim and Votorantim as members. The GCCA has published a detailed roadmap which sets out the path that the industry will follow to fully decarbonize by 2050, a target aligned with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C. The roadmap actions between GLOBAL CEMENT AND CONCRETE INDUSTRY ANNOUNCES ROADMAP TO ACHIEVE NET- ZERO CO2 EMISSIONS BY 2050 SUSTAINABILITY 20 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comNOVEMBER 2021now and 2030 will prevent almost 5 billion tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere compared to a business-as-usual scenario. Concrete is the most used human-made material on the planet with 14 billion cubic meters produced every year for use in everything from roads to bridges, tunnels to homes, and hydropower installations to fl ood defenses. Concrete is an essential element of construction, with no other material equalling its resilience, strength and wide availability. Production of cement, the key ingredient in concrete, accounts for around 7% of global CO2 emissions. The new 2030 commitment by the GCCA outlines a signifi cant acceleration in the pace of industry decarbonization. The roadmap to get there is built around a seven- point plan that relies on ambitious yet achievable actions to reduce the amount of CO2 intensive clinker in cement, signifi cantly reduce fossil fuel use in manufacturing, and accelerate innovation in products, process effi ciency and breakthrough technologies including carbon capture. 1. INCREASED CLINKER SUBSTITUTION: The industry will continue to substitute clin- ker, the main constituent of Portland cement, with supplementary materials such as fl y ash (a by-product of the power sector), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (a by-product of the steel manufacturing process), calcined clays, unburnt and ground limestone or recycled con- crete fi nes. Most of these materials have been used in the sector for a long time, already hav- ing contributed to lowering the CO2 footprint of both, cement and concrete. The roadmap sets out a commitment to further increase clinker substitution and the GCCA will share best practice models from around the world to accelerate its use. 2. FOSSIL FUEL REDUCTIONS AND IN- CREASED USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS: Building on its track record of establishing an almost tenfold increase in the use of alternative fuels since 1990, the industry will reduce fossil- fuel use at every point in supply and production chains, as well as repurposing society’s waste as a smart and greener alternative to fossil fuels. To reduce dependence on conventional fuels, GCCA expects alternative fuels to cover 22% of global cement kiln energy usage by 2030. 3. INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: GCCA will spearhead in- novation through its fl agship global research network, Innovandi – research topics include concrete chemistries and kiln technologies. This includes 75 partners in Innovandi and a global innovation challenge matching startups with GCCA member companies to accelerate deployment of promising technologies. 4. NOVEL CHEMISTRIES (ALTERNATIVES TO PORTLAND CEMENT CLINKER) AND COMPONENTS IN CEMENT AND CON- CRETE MANUFACTURING: Innovative cements including both new clinker substitutes and new types of clinker and new concrete mix designs play an important role in the roadmap with numerous promising approaches already in research or development phase. 5. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FOR CARBON CAPTURE, USAGE AND STOR- AGE (CCUS): GCCA members will build on fi ndings from their existing CCUS pilots in North America, India, China and Europe. The industry has committed to 10 industrial scale carbon capture plants by 2030. 6. IMPROVED EFFICIENCY IN THE DESIGN AND USE OF CONCRETE DURING CON- STRUCTION: GCCA will intensify collaboration with the construction industry, design profes- sionals and policymakers to develop the design and procurement framework that will drive effi cient use of resources and products, use of reprocessed and recycled material, re-use of ele- ments, and extend the lifetime of whole projects. 7. ESTABLISHING A POLICY FRAMEWORK TO ACHIEVE NET ZERO CONCRETE: To deliver net zero concrete by 2050, the global concrete and cement industry is asking for sup- port from policymakers to create a consistent and appropriate global system of carbon pricing to create a level playing fi eld on carbon costs, avoid carbon leakage and ensure a managed transition to a net zero economy; support low- carbon production technologies, such as carbon capture utilisation and storage, by integrating them in public fi nancing mechanisms and providing fair recognition of all carbon capture technologies; create market demand for low carbon products in construction regulations and public procurement; and develop the infrastructure and policies necessary for the de- velopment of green energy and waste directives that promote a circular economy. Thomas Guillot, CEO, GCCA, said: “Global cooperation on decarbonizing concrete is a necessity, as countries developing their infrastructure and housing will be the biggest users of concrete in the coming decades. I am proud of the commitment made by our members to take decisive action and accelerate industry decarbonization between now and 2030, an important milestone towards the ultimate goal of net zero concrete. I envision a world in the not too distant future where the foundation of a sustainable, zero carbon global economy will literally be built with green concrete. We now need governments around the world to work with us and use their huge procurement power to advocate for low carbon concrete in their infrastructure and housing needs. We require their support to change regulation that limits the use of recycled materials and impedes the transition to a low carbon and circular economy.” António Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations, commented: “I invite all cement companies to join this vital endeavour. The transition cost should not be borne only by the fi rst movers. I call on all governments and relevant actors to align public and private fi nance and procurement to create strong markets for net zero-aligned industrial production and develop national sectoral roadmaps towards net zero emissions. Three quarters of the infrastructure that will exist in 2050 has yet to be built. Without credible action now, future generations will have no liveable planet to build upon. The United Nations stands ready to support you in accelerating the transformation of your industry.” SUSTAINABILITY 21 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comNOVEMBER 2021Electrifying your mine also — ABB Ability™ eMine. 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ABB_Industrial_eMine_Ad_410x275mm_Ocean2.indd 123.09.2021 17:54:2323 09 2021 17 54 23PLUG The Putzmeister Iontron hybrid truck-mounted concrete pump tackles two big environmental issues associated with concrete pumping – CO2 and noise emissions. & COVER STORY 24 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comNOVEMBER 2021PUMP COVER STORY 25 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comNOVEMBER 2021portfolio. By developing the fi rst ever concrete pump that enables environment-friendly construction, we are off ering our customers a competitive edge in their markets. For the fi rst time, our customers can off er a sustainable concrete pumping solution without the need to compromise on effi ciency or profi tability,” says Patrick. In the electric mode, the Iontron pump is operated with power supply (125 A) from the jobsite and without the need for additional batteries. The electric mode supports the positioning of the support, boom movements, and concrete pumping. In this mode, the 92kW electric motor of the Iontron covers typical site use applications with a delivery rate of up to 100 m³/h. The output volume depends on the pressure and site conditions. The Iontron hybrid pump when confi gured with Putzmeister’s intelligent low stroke (ILS) core pump provides 3% increase in effi ciency through the prevention of leaks, 10% improvement in suction by removing bottlenecks in the concrete fl ow, and 25% reduction in fuel consumption through the Ergonic Output Control (EOC 2.0) system which regulates the engine speed to ensure that the concrete pump operates smoothly with fuel effi ciency and low wear. Depending on the local safety T he Putzmeister Iontron is a hybrid truck-mounted concrete pump that be powered with diesel or electricity from the construction site. The patent-pending technology integrates the plug-in hybrid in the hydraulic pump train to save fuel, space and weight. By pressing a button, operators can switch between the two modes of energy during the operation of the pump. Depending on the local electricity mix, CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 100%. The Iontron also reduces noise levels up to 50%, which signifi cantly reduces disturbance due to construction activity in residential areas. In the electric mode of operation, the noise perceived by humans can be reduced to 107 dB(A), compared to 115 dB(A) in the diesel mode. Patrick Reichel, regional director – Middle East & North Africa, Putzmeister, explains the product development strategy for the Iontron pump. “Environmental protection has become a decisive factor for tendering and awarding construction projects globally. In urban areas, regulations are being imposed strictly both for CO2 emissions and the noise level of construction machinery. To meet these requirements, our customers in the concrete and construction industries demand innovation in productivity, sustainability and safety with regard to concrete pumping and placement. They also aim to position themselves as drivers of sustainability in their industries. Putzmeister continuously invests in the development of carbon neutral construction machinery which applies not only for concrete pumps but the entire product Patrick Reichel, regional director – Middle East & North Africa, Putzmeister. COVER STORY 26 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comNOVEMBER 2021requirements machine operators can connect the power supply themselves or by a trained worker onsite. Irrespective of the mode of operation – diesel or electric – the experience of operating the concrete pump remains the same for the machine operator. The operator can switch from the diesel drive to the electric mode of operation by driving the truck to the jobsite in the diesel mode and activating the distributor gear. Then, the 35m cable is plugged into the 125A socket. The unwinding can be done by hand or supported hydraulically in the diesel mode. The distributor gear is deactivated in the diesel mode. Then, the main switch is turned to the electric mode. Finally, the electric motor is activated by pressing the ‘start engine’ button on the radio remote control and the concrete pump is operated in the electric mode. One of the early adopters of the Iontron globally and the fi rst customer in the Middle East and North Africa is Saudi-Arabia- based Abdulla Abdeen Ready Mix Concrete Establishment, which has invested in the Iontron specifi cally for construction projects at NEOM in line with the sustainability vision for the megacity. “The major construction companies and contractors worldwide have already implemented sustainability requirements in their tenders and project specifi cations. Furthermore, several markets have introduced incentives for reducing the carbon footprint in the construction industry, either through lower taxation or direct incentives for new investments in hybrid or all-electric machines. The increasing momentum in such initiatives worldwide is driving interest in the Iontron and discussions about the total cost of ownership of machines equipped with this technology,” says Patrick. The Iontron is currently available for Putzmeister’s 20, 30 and 40m series of truck mounted concrete pumps. Putzmeister has plans to introduce the technology in its stationary concrete pumps and truck mixers in the future. COVER STORY 27 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comNOVEMBER 2021A midst growing calls for stronger climate actions, the future of the global oil and gas (O&G) sector now lies in its genuine eff orts to embrace sustainability. For an energy-intensive industry, becoming more sustainable is not a matter of if but when. Industry stakeholders are increasingly setting their net-zero carbon emission targets. They have recognized the need for serious measures and collaborative eff orts to reverse the impact of climate change and global warming. This has led to the rise of sustainable solutions from all segments to strengthen and sustain the industry’s sustainability path. Al Masaood Power Division, a leading provider of marine propulsion and power generation systems, has taken cognizance of the fact that it has a role to play in making the O&G community in the GCC region more sustainable. It has long embraced clean and renewable energy to deliver a sustainable and eff ective power generation method. Part of our sustainability and digitalization eff orts is paying great attention to hydrogen engines along with biogas production, battery saving and storing, and many more. Hydrogen engines burn hydrogen as fuel instead of gasoline and require minimal adjustments from regular internal combustion engines. Such engines will burn hydrogen as fuel instead of gasoline, much like rockets. One benefi t of hydrogen engines is that minimal adjustments are needed from regular internal combustion engines. These are schemes to promote and develop low-carbon business models. Leveraging hydrogen energy is vital to sustaining the eff orts to advance sustainable energy solutions in the O&G community. By Rasso Bartenschlager, general manager, Al Masaood Power Division STRENGTHENING THE SUSTAINABLE PATH OF THE OIL & GAS INDUSTRY COMMENT 28 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comNOVEMBER 2021Hydrogen is the fuel of the future— and the present — in that it is considered the “cornerstone of a carbon-free, long-term energy system.” It will play an important role in the O&G industry’s endeavors to embrace low- carbon business models. Moreover, through its global partnerships with MTU, Volvo Penta and Leroy Somer, the best-in-class brands that it exclusively represents in the UAE, Al Masaood Power has embarked on initiatives that would help reduce carbon emissions, protect the environment, and achieve the region’s ambitious sustainable energy goals. These programmes are also aimed at highlighting the signifi cance of renewable energy. We are in constant collaboration with the three brands to off er solutions with reduced environmental impact. For instance, we have introduced to the local market Volvo Penta’s range of energy-effi cient engines with low fuel consumption. Furthermore, we promote the use of the latest diesel engine technology, which promises low fuel consumption with minimal maintenance and low operating costs. This technology provides a high power-to-weight ratio to enable the construction of compact turnkey solutions for the O&G sector. We support the enhancements as well on hybrid and battery systems to not only ensure power supply stability but also lower carbon emissions and increase operating effi ciencies. In line with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which seeks to increase the percentage of clean energy in its total energy mix, we have also begun emphasizing the importance of smart microgrid solutions. Microgrids are decentralized energy systems that are composed of renewable power generation, power storage and conventional power generation. They support the integration and deployment of distributed energy sources such as solar energy. Al Masaood Power is continuously working to reinforce its business sustainability model by focusing on more sustainable fuel sources. We have also partnered with key power industry leaders such as Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA), Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA), Federal Electricity & Water Authority (FEWA), and Sharjah Electricity, Water & Gas Authority (SEWA) with similar sustainability goals as our organization to fulfi l our mission. With unmatched expertise in power generation systems and industrial diesel engine applications, Al Masood Power will continue to off er the oil and gas industry state-of-the- art technologies that will help accelerate its sustainability journey. Rasso Bartenschlager, general manager, Al Masaood Power Division. COMMENT 29 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comNOVEMBER 2021Next >