Cement maker to decarbonize production with solar, green hydrogen

Slovenian cement producer Salonit Anhovo and hydropower company Soške Elektrarne have agreed to cooperate in the fields of solar power and green hydrogen production.

The first solar power plant in the Salonit Anhovo industrial complex will be installed on the roof of one of the larger facilities near the quarry, and it will generate 2.12 GWh of electricity annually. A construction agreement has already been signed with energy engineering firm Interenergo, with works slated to begin at the end of November this year.

The first rooftop solar plant at Salonit Anhovo’s industrial complex will produce 2.12 GWh of electricity annually

Salonit Anhovo and Soške Elektrarne, a subsidiary of Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE), are also exploring the possibility of building an additional solar power plant in combination with the production of hydrogen from renewable sources.

Salonit Anhovo’s strategic goal is to decarbonize its cement production and this includes the use of solar energy and hydrogen obtained from renewable sources, according to Tomaž Vuk, a member of the company’s management board.

Salonit Anhovo plans to reduce its CO2 footprint 15% by 2025

The first step towards decarbonization of cement production is a package of technological solutions that will lead to a 15% reduction in Salonit Anhovo’s CO2 footprint by 2025 as well as a cut in other emissions.

The company plans to deploy solar power systems with a total capacity of 5 MW to 10 MW and technologies for storing the produced energy, according to the statement.

The cement maker is also exploring the use of carbon capture and storage technologies

Salonit Anhovo also sees the possibility of a further breakthrough in the field of decarbonization in the introduction of carbon capture, storage and processing technologies, where hydrogen plays an important role, the company added.