Air Liquide has announced the start-up of its first industrial-scale carbon capture pilot unit dedicated specifically to the cement industry, marking a significant step in advancing decarbonization solutions for one of the world’s most difficult-to-abate sectors.
The pilot is based on the company’s proprietary Cryocap™ technology and has been installed at Holcim’s CaptureLab in France, the world’s first carbon capture test platform dedicated to cement production.
The new unit utilizes Cryocap™ FG (Flue Gas), a version of Air Liquide’s carbon capture technology developed specifically for cement applications. With a processing capacity of 3,000 Nm³ per hour of flue gas, the pilot is designed to address one of the key challenges in cement decarbonization: the treatment and conditioning of complex flue gas streams prior to CO2 capture.
The system removes impurities from flue gas and pre-concentrates carbon dioxide before final purification, creating a critical pathway toward reliable, large-scale deployment of carbon capture technologies across cement and lime production facilities.
Supporting Scale-Up of Carbon Capture in Hard-to-Abate Industries
The pilot has been designed using a modular approach, enabling easier transport, installation and future deployment at additional industrial sites. Following its initial operation at CaptureLab, the unit can be relocated to support further testing and scale-up activities across other facilities.
The project represents an important milestone in the commercialization of carbon capture solutions for the cement industry, where the majority of emissions originate from the chemical process of limestone calcination rather than energy consumption alone.
As a result, carbon capture is widely viewed as a critical technology for achieving deep emissions reductions within the sector.
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The pilot also builds on Air Liquide’s experience with its Cryocap™ technology at industrial facilities such as Port-Jérôme in France, where the company has accumulated more than a decade of operational expertise.
Insights gained from the CaptureLab program are expected to support the development of future cement and lime carbon capture projects and help accelerate the deployment of large-scale CO2 capture infrastructure across heavy industry.
According to Air Liquide, the launch demonstrates the company’s ability to scale carbon capture technologies from research and development through to industrial implementation, supporting customers in reducing emissions from hard-to-abate sectors and advancing broader industrial decarbonization goals.
Read more: Air Liquide And Holcim To Decarbonize Cement With Carbon Capture In Belgium
